What This Bill Does
This bill increases criminal punishments for certain crimes involving children when they happen near schools, youth centers and other locations where children gather. The bill adds a new crime category called "Offenses involving children" to federal law.
Who It Affects
People who commit specific crimes involving minors near schools and youth facilities will face longer prison sentences.
Key Provisions
• Anyone convicted of certain listed crimes involving a minor within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college, junior college, university, school-sponsored activity, playground or public housing authority facility must receive an additional prison sentence of up to 5 years on top of their original sentence (Sec. 2(a))
• Anyone convicted of certain listed crimes involving a minor within 100 feet of a public or private youth center, public park, public playground, public swimming pool or video arcade facility must receive an additional prison sentence of up to 5 years on top of their original sentence (Sec. 2(a))
• The additional prison time must be served consecutively, meaning it is added directly to the original sentence rather than running at the same time (Sec. 2(a))
• The bill defines a minor as anyone under 18 years old (Sec. 2(b))
What Changes
A new criminal offense is created with mandatory additional prison time for crimes involving children near schools and youth facilities.
Important Definitions
Minor: A person who has not reached 18 years of age.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 30
To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the punishment for
certain offenses involving children, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 9, 2023
Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself and Mr. MCCAUL) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the
punishment for certain offenses involving children, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Human Traf-
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ficking in School Zones Act’’.
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SEC. 2. INCREASED PUNISHMENT FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES
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INVOLVING CHILDREN.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 110 of title 18, United
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States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2251A
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the following:
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•HR 30 IH
‘‘§ 2251B. Offenses involving children
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‘‘(a) OFFENSE.—Any person who commits a felony
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offense involving a minor under section 1201, 1466A,
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1470, 1591, 1594, 2241, 2242, 2243, 2244, 2245, 2251,
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2251A, 2260, 2421, 2422, 2423, or 2425, within 1,000
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feet of the real property comprising a public or private
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elementary, vocational, or secondary school or a public or
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private college, junior college, or university, school-spon-
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sored activity, or a playground, or housing facility owned
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by a public housing authority, or within 100 feet of a pub-
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lic or private youth center, public park, public playground,
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public swimming pool, or video arcade facility, shall be
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sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years in
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addition to the imprisonment imposed for the offense
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under that provision. The sentence imposed under this
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section shall be consecutive to any sentence imposed for
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the offense under that provision.
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‘‘(b) MINOR DEFINED.—In this section, the term
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‘minor’ means an individual who has not attained 18 years
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of age.’’.
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
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for chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is amend-
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ed by inserting after the item relating to section 2251A
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the following new item:
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‘‘2251B. Offenses involving children.’’.
Æ
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