The bill amends sections 2905.05 and 2950.01 of the Revised Code to redefine the criteria for the offense of criminal child enticement. It specifies that a person must act with either a sexual motivation or an unlawful purpose to be guilty of this offense, replacing "both" with "either" in the solicitation criteria and removing the requirement for the offender to obtain permission from a child's guardian. The bill clarifies that actions taken with sexual motivation constitute a violation of the law and establishes varying degrees of felonies based on the nature of the offense and the offender's prior convictions. Additionally, it introduces new definitions for terms such as "sexual motivation," "vehicle," and "vessel," aligning them with existing legal language and outlining penalties based on circumstances like prior convictions or the victim's age.

Furthermore, Am. H. B. No. 168 implements significant changes to the classification and management of sex offenders and child-victim offenders in Ohio. It establishes tiered classifications (tier I, tier II, and tier III) based on the nature of offenses and prior convictions, detailing the classification process by juvenile courts. The bill also repeals existing sections 2905.05 and 2950.01, indicating a comprehensive overhaul of the legal framework for sex offender registration and classification. New definitions for terms such as "juvenile offender registrant" and "restricted offender category" are included, ensuring consistency with previous legislative changes. This legislative effort aims to enhance public safety by ensuring offenders are classified and monitored appropriately according to the severity of their offenses.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2905.05, 2950.01
As Reported By House Committee: 2905.05, 2950.01
As Passed By House: 2905.05, 2950.01