To applause, Kentucky’s House of Representatives unanimously passed a priority bill that would codify criminal charges for adults who groom children for sex.
House Bill 4, which has 33 sponsors, most of whom are Republican, proposes a range of charges for adults, 18 and older, who groom children with an “intent to entice, coerce, solicit, or prepare the minor to engage in sexual conduct with the person or another person.”
Primary sponsor Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union, said on the House floor that grooming is a “calculated, manipulative, deceptive process in which a predator intentionally builds a relationship with a vulnerable individual, most often a child, in order to gain trust, access and ultimately to exploit or abuse the victim.”
HB 4 has two tiers for both adults who groom children under the age of 14 and those in positions of “authority or position of special trust” — such as coaches or teachers — who groom children under the age of 18.
The first tier is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the minor is younger than 12 years old, in which case it is a Class D felony, according to the bill. For those in trusted positions, grooming a minor is a Class D felony unless the minor is younger than 12, in which case it is a Class C felony.
The bill lays out exceptions for “lawful or legitimate” communications, including teaching curriculum on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases, age-appropriate conversations about puberty and sexuality between the child and their parent or guardian and more.
Law enforcement currently has to wait to charge groomers until they have specifically solicited or assaulted a child, Louis Kelly, the commonwealth’s attorney in Boone and Gallatin counties, previously said.
“By putting this behavior into statute, House Bill 4 strengthens our ability to intervene earlier, hold offenders accountable and better safeguard our children and communities,” Proctor said.
Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, said in support of the bill that “anyone that is grooming a young person for sexual actions or abuse later on should be given the harshest penalties under the law.”
Apparently referring to the more than 3 million pages of documents released in January related to dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Marzian said, “we have seen the information coming out nationally, and it’s so disgusting and devastating.”
To laughs and claps from the chamber, Marzian said if anyone “would look at this child and want to groom” her granddaughter, “this grandma — I don’t know, I might become a concealed carry member.”
HB 4 can now go to the House for consideration.
“Grooming is not harmless. It is not misunderstood, nor is it accidental behavior. It is a calculated process, one designed to build trust, lower defenses and create access for future exploitation,” Proctor said. “House Bill 4 makes it clear that Kentucky recognizes grooming for what it is, and it will not tolerate it.”