SPONSOR: Coleman
Currently, a statement made by a child under the age of 14 that would otherwise be inadmissible in court, including a visual and an aural recording of a verbal or nonverbal statement of that child, is admissible in court in matters relating to offenses under Chapters 565, 566, 568 or 573, RSMo. This bill changes the age to children under 18. The bill also adds that a visual and an aural recording of a verbal or nonverbal statement of a vulnerable person, as defined in the bill, is also admissible when relating to an offense under Chapter 565, 566, 568, or 573.
This bill also modifies the offense of enticement of a child by increasing the age of the victim from less than 15 years old to less than 17 years old.
Additionally, the bill modifies the penalty provisions for the offense of patronizing prostitution. Currently, the penalty distinctions are for older than 14 years of age and 14 or younger. This bill increases the age from 14 to 15 years old and modifies the offense of patronizing prostitution if the individual is 15 years of age or younger from a class D felony to a class B felony.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 454 (2023) and HB 2616 (2022).
Statutes affected: