Anti-grooming legislation being drafted in state House
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A state lawmaker wants Pennsylvania to join the states with dedicated laws on the books to hold adults accountable when they exploit positions of authority and trust to groom minors in their care.
Rep. Joe D'Orsie, R-Manchester, is drafting the legislation and asking fellow legislators for co-sponsorship support. While Pennsylvania law provides criminal penalties for sexual offenses and unlawful contact with minors, D'Orsie said the state's Crimes Code has a significant gap when it comes to intervening before grooming escalates into physical abuse or explicit sexual solicitation. D'Orsie wrote in his co-sponsorship memorandum that the legislative gap his proposal would fix is not stranger solicitation, but the abuse of trust and authority where a predator uses a position of power to build a secretive, intimate relationship with a minor under the guise of innocent interaction. D'Orsie said predators systematically dismantle boundaries, isolate minors from their families, and normalize inappropriate intimacy long before an overt physical crime takes place. Under current law, law enforcement and prosecutors are frequently forced to wait until physical harm occurs before they can intervene.
"Predators rarely cross the line all at once. They break down boundaries, build secrecy and manipulate a child's trust long before overt sexual crimes occur. We need to give law enforcement the tools to intervene before a child is harmed, not wait until the damage is done," D'Orsie said.
The proposed legislation would establish the offense of Grooming of a Minor, making it a crime for an adult responsible for a minor's welfare to intentionally engage in a course of conduct designed to entice or facilitate prohibited sexual conduct. The bill would specifically address conduct that cultivates secrecy, inappropriate intimacy or dependency between an adult and a minor.
To ensure the legislation does not criminalize legitimate relationships between children and trusted adults, the proposal includes safe harbors for ordinary, transparent interactions that are incidental to educational, athletic, religious and professional roles.
Several states have recently passed legislation similar to the bill D'Orsie is drafting. Minnesota has implemented House File 3489, which makes child grooming a felony. It applies to any adult, including school employees, contractors, coaches, and faith leaders, regardless of the victim’s age in certain authority contexts. Kentucky has signed House Bill 4 into law, creating tiered penalties for adults who intentionally groom minors for sexual exploitation. Punishments escalate when the perpetrator holds a position of trust or if the child is under 12.
In 2025 Wisconsin enacted 2025 Wisconsin Act 88 which established grooming as a criminal felony with enhanced penalties for offenders in authority positions or those targeting disabled children.
"The need to protect our children is not political. As a dad, I know there is nothing more important than making sure our children are safe from those who would take advantage. As a legislator, I have a responsibility to make sure our laws give law enforcement the tools to intervene before grooming escalates into abuse. We must close this gap now and protect our children," D'Orsie said.