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Committee adopts amendment to sexting statute to clarify juveniles' offenses and age gap
Summary
The Senate Judiciary C committee adopted Senator Kleinpeter’s amendment to clarify when indecent depictions between minors result in felony exposure — adding a limit on age difference and exemptions for non‑exploitative exchanges.
Senator Kleinpeter presented Senate Bill 134 and offered an amendment that narrows the statute’s reach when juveniles under 17 exchange indecent visual depictions. The amendment inserts a specification about age difference so that the statute does not automatically criminalize certain peer exchanges.
The sponsor said the change responds to cases where two juveniles sext between themselves and could otherwise be labeled felons under the current wording. He explained the amendment would apply where there is an age difference greater than four years and would preserve criminal penalties when the conduct involves intent to obtain value, secure a privilege, harass or cause emotional distress.
The committee adopted the amendment in concept, clarified the language (adding the phrase "no greater than 4 years" in the engrossed version) and then adopted it formally. Lieutenant John Laws of the Baton Rouge Police Department was present to answer questions about application in investigations.
Outcome: The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill as amended.
Context: Sponsors said they worked with the attorney general’s office on wording to avoid turning ordinary peer exchanges into felonies while preserving penalties for exploitative conduct.
