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Committee advances bill to create new grooming offense for child-protection prosecutions
Summary
Representative Barrett told the Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee House Bill 2,317 would define 'grooming' conduct and attach a criminal offense to allow law enforcement and prosecutors to intervene before assaults occur; the subcommittee voted to send the bill to full finance.
The Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee voted to forward House Bill 2,317 to full finance after Representative Barrett described the measure as a new crime of 'grooming' to help law enforcement and district attorneys intervene before children are assaulted.
Barrett said the bill would "define what grooming conduct is and attach a criminal offense for that," giving prosecutors an additional tool to act against people targeting children. He described the change as a way for law enforcement and district attorneys "to be able to intervene and take people out of play that are targeting our children." The sponsor stood ready for questions but the committee took the bill to a vote without extended debate.
The clerk recorded no recorded 'no' votes and the chair announced House Bill 2,317 "moves to full finance." The bill will be scheduled for consideration in the full finance committee.
