HB 101-CRIMES AGAINST MINORS  1:06:18 PM CHAIR GRAY announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 101, "An Act relating to civil claims by victims of sexual abuse to a minor; relating to homicide; relating to assault in the third degree; relating to stalking; relating to sexual abuse of a minor; relating to enticement of a minor; relating to endangering the welfare of a child; relating to indecent exposure; relating to sending an explicit image of a minor; relating to solicitation or production of an indecent picture of a minor; relating to distribution of indecent material to minors; relating to the testimony of children in criminal proceedings; relating to sentencing; and providing for an effective date." 1:06:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 101, labeled 34-LS0451\A.3, C. Radford, 3/4/25, which read: Page 4, line 14: Following "child": Insert "who is" Following the second occurrence of "age": Insert "and at least two years younger than the  offender" Page 7, line 15: Delete "A person" Insert "An offender [A PERSON]" Delete the second occurrence of "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Page 7, line 19, following "age": Insert "and at least four years younger than the  offender" Page 7, line 20: Delete the first occurrence of "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Page 7, line 21, following "age": Insert "and at least four years younger than the  offender" Page 7, following line 25: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 12. AS 11.41.452(e) is amended to read: (e) Enticement of a minor is a class A felony if the offender [DEFENDANT] was, at the time of the offense, required to register as a sex offender or child kidnapper under AS 12.63 or a similar law of another jurisdiction." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 9, line 21: Delete "A person" Insert "An offender [A PERSON]" Page 9, line 23: Delete "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Page 9, line 26: Delete "that" Insert "who [THAT]" Delete "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Following "age": Insert "and at least four years younger than the  offender" Page 9, line 28: Delete the second occurrence of "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Page 9, line 29, following "age": Insert "and at least four years younger than the  offender" Page 9, line 30: Delete "person" Insert "offender [PERSON]" Page 10, following line 23: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 22. AS 11.61.128(e) is amended to read: (e) Distribution of indecent material to minors is a class B felony if the offender [DEFENDANT] was, at the time of the offense, required to register as a sex offender or child kidnapper under AS 12.63 or a similar law of another jurisdiction." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 22, following line 29: Insert a new paragraph to read: "(12) AS 11.41.452(e), as amended by sec. 12 of this Act;" Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Page 22, line 30: Delete "sec. 12" Insert "sec. 13" Page 22, line 31: Delete "sec. 13" Insert "sec. 14" Page 23, line 1: Delete "sec. 14" Insert "sec. 15" Page 23, line 2: Delete "sec. 15" Insert "sec. 16" Page 23, line 3: Delete "sec. 16" Insert "sec. 17" Page 23, line 4: Delete "sec. 17" Insert "sec. 18" Page 23, line 5: Delete "sec. 18" Insert "sec. 19" Page 23, line 6: Delete "sec. 19" Insert "sec. 20" Page 23, line 7: Delete "sec. 20" Insert "sec. 21" Page 23, following line 7: Insert a new paragraph to read: "(22) AS 11.61.128(e), as amended by sec. 22 of this Act;" Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Page 23, line 8: Delete "sec. 21" Insert "sec. 23" Page 23, line 9: Delete "sec. 22" Insert "sec. 24" Page 23, line 10: Delete "sec. 23" Insert "sec. 25" Page 23, line 11: Delete "sec. 24" Insert "sec. 26" Page 23, line 12: Delete "sec. 25" Insert "sec. 27" Page 23, line 13: Delete "sec. 26" Insert "sec. 28" Page 23, line 14: Delete "sec. 27" Insert "sec. 29" REPRESENTATIVE MINA objected for the purpose of discussion. 1:06:55 PM BOB BALLINGER, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Vance, prime sponsor, stated that in trying to stay consistent with current code, Amendment 1 would incorporate the two-year age gap that was "built in" with regard to increasing the age of consent from 16 to 18 years old. It would also replace "person" with "offender" in several places and make necessary conforming changes. 1:10:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID sought to confirm that in essence, Amendment 1 would take the Romeo and Juliet exemption and change the current proposed four-year age gap to two years. MR. BALLINGER responded yes, but only in certain sections. He explained that the Romeo and Juliet exemption is four years for consent; however, instead of incorporating that, the bill would use the current two-year gap "that was there because of the 16- year-old difference." 1:11:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA removed her objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:12:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report HB 101, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE objected for the purpose of discussion. She said her focus is on the vulnerability of youth and people who take advantage of them. She said the bill would have a great impact on many young people who feel like they lack a strong legal defense in court. She opined that the simplicity of the bill would help people wrap their mind around it and expressed her hope that this year, the legislature would provide justice for minors with a law that stands behind them. She removed her objection. CHAIR GRAY objected. He reiterated that the intent of the bill is to provide protections for vulnerable 16- and 17-year-olds who are particularly vulnerable to predators because of the current age of consent in Alaska. He explained that Amendment 1 would ensure that HB 101 would not inadvertently create new crimes. He shared his belief that passing the bill would be one of the most important steps to protecting 16- and 17-year-olds from abuse in Alaska. 1:15:31 PM CHAIR GRAY removed his objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 101(JUD) was reported out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee. He authorized Legislative Legal services to make any necessary or conforming changes.