HB1777

House Bill 1777 amends Arkansas Code § 5-27-307 to modify the legal definition and scope of the offense of 'sexually grooming a child.' The bill explicitly includes the act of bribing, or attempting to bribe, a child aged thirteen or younger to engage in sexual intercourse, sexually explicit conduct, or deviate sexual activity within the definition of the crime. The bill defines 'bribe' as offering, bestowing, or withholding property, gifts, goods, or services for the purpose of gaining a child's compliance or cooperation. It maintains existing classification structures, where the offense is a Class D felony for offenders aged twenty-one or older and a Class A misdemeanor for those under twenty-one. Furthermore, it retains affirmative defense provisions related to the age difference between the actor and the victim, as well as provisions regarding ignorance of the child's age.