This bill adds a new federal crime, titled "Sexual exploitation of protected adults" (section 2245A) to Chapter 109A of Title 18. It makes it illegal, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a protected adult to send or otherwise transmit an intimate visual depiction with the intent to harm that person, or to attempt to do so. A first offense may be punished by a fine, imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. A second or later offense may be punished by a fine, imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both.
The bill defines "protected adult" as a person 18 or older who is unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation at the time of the offense because of one or more listed conditions (for example: autism spectrum disorder; intellectual developmental disorder or intellectual disability; cerebral palsy; Down syndrome; major neurocognitive disorder; dementia or Alzheimer’s disease; schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder). Those medical terms are to be understood using the most recent editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in force at the time of the offense. The bill defines "harm" to include physical, psychological, financial, or reputational harm. It also makes a clerical change to the chapter table of sections.
No publicly available information on federal cost estimates, budget impacts, or funding in the bill text. The bill specifies criminal penalties (fines and imprisonment) but does not provide federal cost or savings estimates.
No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about proponents' stated reasons, goals, or arguments.
No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about opponents' stated objections or arguments.