Kentucky lawmakers pass bill to educate kids, make sexual exploitation a felony

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill to protect minors online.

Senate Bill 73 will enact stronger protections for young people online, and will help police hold offenders accountable, especially when it comes to sextortion — using compromising pictures of minors to manipulate them.

According to the FBI, sextortion can happen on any website, social media app, messaging platform or game where kids and adults meet or communicate.

Right now, there aren't many legal penalties for predators. But this bill will make sextortion a felony.

It would also require schools to educate students, starting in fourth grade, about the crime of sexual extortion and display posters with assistance for victims.

It passed the Senate unanimously, with 38 yeas. It passed the House Friday with 94 yeas, and six representatives not voting.

SB 73 now goes to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk for his signature to become law.

To read the current version of the bill, click here.

Anyone being exploited is the victim of a crime and should report it. You can contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

For more exploitation resources, click here.

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