HSB 575 (LSB 5895YC (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HOLT)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a criminal offense of grooming and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  709.8A  Grooming.
   1.  A person commits grooming when the person knowingly uses a computer, internet service, or any other electronic data storage or transmission device, performs an act in person or by conduct through a third party, or uses written communication to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child, a child’s guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child’s guardian to commit any sex act or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child. As used in this section, “child” means a person under seventeen years of age.
   2.  Grooming is a class “D” felony.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes the criminal offense of grooming.
   The bill provides that a person commits grooming when the person knowingly uses a computer, internet service, or any other electronic data storage or transmission device, performs an act in person or by conduct through a third party, or uses written communication to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child, a child’s guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child’s guardian to commit any sex act or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child. The bill defines “child” as a person under 17 years of age.
   The bill provides that grooming is a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.