Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes criminal penalties for adults who engage in grooming behavior towards minors in Kentucky.

Highlights:

• Establishes the following criteria of guilt for the crime of grooming a minor (Sec. 1):

• Being 18 years of age or older; and

• Engaging in conduct directed at a minor under the age of 14 with the intent to entice, coerce, solicit, or induce the minor to engage in sexual conduct; or

• Being in a position of authority or special trust, engaging in conduct directed at a minor under the age of 18 with the intent to entice, coerce, solicit, or induce the minor to engage in sexual conduct, or develop an intimate or secretive relationship with the minor.

• Classifies the grooming of a minor as a Class A misdemeanor when the victim is 12 years of age or older, and a Class C felony when the victim is under 12 years of age (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this section shall not prevent an individual from communicating with a minor for lawful purposes, including but not limited to the following (Sec. 1):

• Teaching curriculum on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases;

• The diagnosis or treatment of a minor by a health care provider;

• Communicating with a minor to determine if they are dependent, neglected, or abused;

• Age appropriate conversations about puberty and human sexuality by a sibling, parent, or guardian; and

• Any conversation with a minor that is part of an individual’s job or volunteer duties.

• Defines “grooming behavior” as repeated conduct directed at a minor that is intended to establish an emotional connection through manipulation, trust-building, or influence to facilitate future acts of sexual conduct or normalize/desensitize the minor to acts of sexual conduct (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text