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IN SB0181

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/9/2017

Primary Sponsor

Aaron Freeman

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2017 Regular Session

AI Summary

Senate Bill 181 Summary

  • Creates a new Level 6 felony offense for accessing child pornography with intent to view, applying to images depicting or describing sexual conduct by children under 18 years of age or appearing to be under 18 years of age.

  • Amends IC 35-42-4-4 to add subsection (d) establishing possession of child pornography as a Level 6 felony, with escalation to Level 5 felony under specified aggravating circumstances involving force, mental disability, or victims under 12 years of age.

  • Establishes affirmative defenses including exemptions for schools, museums, and public libraries conducting legitimate educational or scientific activities, and a "Romeo and Juliet" defense for consensual exchanges between minors within 4 years of age difference in dating relationships.

  • Includes defense for minors under 18 years of age at time of offense if specific circumstances apply, with court authority to dismiss charges with prejudice upon preponderance of evidence at pretrial hearing.

  • Effective July 1, 2017.

Legislative Description

Accessing child pornography. Makes it a Level 6 felony for a person to access, with intent to view, a photograph or other pictorial representation that depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child who the person knows is less than 18 years of age or who appears to be less than 18 years of age.

Last Action

Senator Freeman added as author

1/24/2017

Committee Referrals

Corrections & Criminal Law1/9/2017

Full Bill Text

No bill text available