BILL AS INTRODUCED H.659
2020 Page 1 of 2
1 H.659
2 Introduced by Representative LaLonde of South Burlington
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Crimes; luring a child; grooming for sexual contact
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to expand the
7 statute prohibiting luring a child to also prohibit grooming behaviors intended
8 to facilitate sexual contact with a child.
9 An act relating to prohibiting grooming a child for sexual contact
10 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
11 Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 2828 is amended to read:
12 § 2828. LURING A CHILD
13 (a) No person shall knowingly solicit, lure, groom, or entice, or to attempt
14 to solicit, lure, groom, or entice, a child under the age of 16 years of age or
15 another person believed by the person to be a child under the age of 16 years of
16 age, to engage in a sexual act as defined in section 3251 of this title or engage
17 in lewd and lascivious conduct as defined in section 2602 of this title.
18 (b) This section applies to solicitation, luring, grooming, or enticement by
19 any means, including in person, through written or telephonic correspondence
20 or electronic communication.
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1 (c) This section shall not apply if the person is less than 19 years old, the
2 child is at least 15 years old, and the conduct is consensual and there is an age
3 difference of less than 48 months, unless the person and alleged victim meet
4 the criteria outlined in subsection (d) of this section.
5 (d) No person shall knowingly solicit, lure, groom, or entice, or attempt to
6 solicit, lure, groom or entice, a child under 18 years of age or another person
7 believed by the person to be a child under 18 years of age, to engage in a
8 sexual act as defined in section 3251 of this title or engage in lewd and
9 lascivious conduct as defined in section 2602 of this title if the person is in a
10 position of power, authority, or supervision over the minor by virtue of the
11 person’s professional or voluntary role as a provider of health care, guidance,
12 leadership, instruction, organized recreational activities, or religious activity
13 for minors.
14 (e) As used in this section, “grooming” means an action or actions
15 undertaken for the purpose of facilitating sexual contact with a child or student.
16 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
17 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
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Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 13-2828