OH HB168

Amends Ohio's criminal child enticement statute (Section 2905.05) to require proof that a person acted with either sexual motivation or another unlawful purpose when soliciting, coaxing, enticing, or luring a child under 14 years of age

Removes previous elements requiring lack of parental permission and exceptions for law enforcement, emergency responders, and school employees acting within their duties

Establishes tiered penalties: violations with unlawful purpose (non-sexual) are first-degree misdemeanors, escalating to fifth-degree felonies for repeat offenders; violations with sexual motivation are fifth-degree felonies, escalating to fourth-degree felonies (one prior) or third-degree felonies (two or more priors)

Updates cross-references in Ohio's sex offender registration statute (Section 2950.01) to align with the restructured child enticement offense, changing references from division (B) to division (A)(1) for sexually motivated offenses

Eliminates the previous affirmative defense allowing actors to claim they acted in response to a bona fide emergency or to preserve a child's health, safety, or welfare