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Summary: HB 1011 mandates that an individual who knowingly solicits a minor online and travels with intent to meet the minor have a minimum term of imprisonment of five years.
Analysis: HB 1011 enhances the penalty for soliciting a minor online if the individual attempts to meet the minor in person. The penalty for soliciting a minor online is currently a minimum of two years incarceration. This would enhance the penalty by 150% for attempting to meet the person solicited. While we agree that those who would knowingly solicit and attempt to meet a minor should be held to a high standard of accountability for their actions, we have seen no evidence to indicate that this penalty enhancement will act as a substantially better deterrent than the existing penalty or that after serving the enhanced sentence, and offender would be less likely to re-offend. We are neutral on this legislation.
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