The proposed bill establishes new legal provisions regarding the age of victims in certain criminal offenses. It creates a new section, 787.001, which specifies that ignorance of a victim's age, misrepresentation of a victim's age, and a bona fide belief regarding a victim's age cannot be used as defenses in cases where the victim's age is a critical element of the offense. An exception is noted for section 787.30. Additionally, the bill amends section 787.025 to revise the classification of offenses related to luring or enticing a child, changing the penalties from misdemeanors to felonies and increasing the severity of the charges for repeat offenders and those with specific prior convictions.

Furthermore, the bill updates the offense severity ranking chart in section 921.0022 of the Criminal Punishment Code, reflecting these changes in the classification of offenses involving children. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for October 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen legal repercussions for offenses involving minors by eliminating defenses based on a perpetrator's claims about a victim's age and increasing penalties for serious offenses against children.

Statutes affected:
H 777 Filed: 787.025