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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5468
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CRIME OF HARMFUL
COMMUNICATION WITH A MINOR.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a new crime of harmful communication with a
minor. Anyone who is age 21 or older is guilty of this crime when the
person uses an interactive computer service to knowingly persuade,
induce, entice, or coerce a minor (i.e., anyone under age 18 or who the
actor reasonably believes to be under age 18) to:
1. share a photographic or recorded image of the minor (a) for
sexual gratification of the person who requests the image or (b)
which the requestor then disseminates to one or more third
persons for their sexual gratification; or
2. engage in any communication (a) of an inappropriate sexual
nature with the minor, (b) that is part of a pattern of
communication or behavior designed to form or maintain an
inappropriate relationship with a minor, or (c) that is harmful to
a minor (i.e., communication with a minor using an interactive
computer device that is patently offensive to prevailing
standards in the adult community as a whole regarding what is
a suitable form of communication between an adult and a minor).
Under the bill, a violation may be deemed to have been committed
either at the place where the communication originated or where it was
received.
Under the bill, an “inappropriate relationship” is a relationship that
is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as
a whole with respect to what is a suitable relationship between an adult
and a minor. “Interactive computer service” means any information
service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables 2022HB-05468-R000526-BA.DOCX
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computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including a
service or system that provides access to the Internet and those systems
operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions.
Under the bill, harmful communications with a minor is a class D
felony (punishable by up to five-years imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine,
or both).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2022
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/31/2022)