Senate approves Sen. Martin, Rep. Baker bill increasing penalties for child porn, with changes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill passed through the Florida Senate Tuesday that addresses child exploitation offenses, increasing offense levels for crimes related to child pornography.

Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, sponsored SB 1656, a bill that addresses child exploitation offenses. It passed with a 48-0 vote through the Senate.

The bill increases offense levels for crimes related to several crimes related to possession and promotion, or production of child pornography.

Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville, sponsored the current version of the legislation, HB 1545.

It increases current third degree felony penalties for child pornography possession to second degree felonies.

In Martin’s original bill, it created the offense of “lewd or lascivious grooming” and provided criminal penalties for such an offense.

Martin filed an amendment to the bill, which he said replaces the “grooming language” and the legislation now targets individuals who have “inappropriate conversations and communications” with children.

“We want to protect our kids before someone physically abuses them and hold perpetrators accountable for the mental abuse that is caused by this type of communication,” Martin said.

Specifically, Martin said the bill provides that an adult who engages in a pattern of communication to a minor that includes explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual activity, sexual conduct or sexual excitement that is “harmful” to a minor would be subject to a third degree penalty.

The word “grooming” will no longer be included in the bill following the amendment.

“This is a bill that moves the ball forward in protecting our kids and providing a tool that we can use to hold some of the sickest and worst offenders of our laws accountable,” Martin said.

The bill will now head to the House for approval before heading to the governor.