HB2317

Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act criminalizes grooming behavior to protect minors and mentally compromised individuals from sexual exploitation.

The Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act aims to protect minors and mentally compromised individuals from sexual exploitation by criminalizing grooming behavior. Grooming is defined as any act intended to establish trust, secrecy, emotional connection, or control with a minor or mentally compromised individual to entice, prepare, or facilitate sexual contact or exploitation. The act supplements existing child protection laws and includes penalties ranging from Class E to Class A felonies, depending on the victim's age and the offender's prior convictions or position of trust.