Bill > HB1777

This bill amends Arkansas law concerning the sexual grooming of children by expanding the definition and scope of the offense. The bill defines "bribe" as offering or withholding property, gifts, goods, or services with the purpose of gaining a child's acceptance or compliance. It modifies the existing statute on sexually grooming a child by adding a new provision that makes it a crime to not only disseminate sexually explicit content to a child under 13, but also to bribe or attempt to bribe such a child to engage in sexual intercourse, sexually explicit conduct, or deviate sexual activity. The bill maintains the existing penalty structure, making it a Class D felony if the perpetrator is 21 or older, and a Class A misdemeanor if the perpetrator is younger than 21. The bill also preserves two key legal provisions: an affirmative defense if the actor is no more than three years older than the victim, and a clause stating that the perpetrator's lack of knowledge about the child's age is not a valid defense. The primary goal of this legislation appears to be strengthening protections for children by criminalizing additional forms of sexual manipulation and enticement.