Bill Overview
Title: Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2022
Description: This bill makes changes to the federal law prohibiting child sexual tourism. First, the bill revises the specific intent required for certain offenses involving interstate or foreign travel to engage in or facilitate illicit sexual conduct. Specifically, this bill requires the government to prove that an individual traveled (or facilitated travel) with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct (currently, with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct). Further, it specifies that the term intent is to be construed as any intention to engage in illicit sexual conduct at the time of the travel. Second, the bill establishes new criminal offenses for acts in furtherance of illicit sexual conduct by an officer, director, employee, or agent of an organization through his or her connection to or affiliation with the organization. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both. Finally, the bill specifies that the term sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense does not require interpersonal physical contact.
Sponsors: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals vulnerable to child sex abuse
Estimated Size: 400000
- The bill aims to prevent child sex abuse by strengthening legislation around child sexual tourism.
- The law directly impacts individuals who might have been perpetrators or facilitators of child sexual abuse, by increasing the penalties and clarifying intent.
- Organizations and their representatives are also targeted, as the bill creates new offenses for individuals using organizational affiliation to further illicit sexual conduct.
- Potential victims of child sex abuse will benefit indirectly from increased preventative measures.
- The entire population is indirectly benefited due to enhanced legal measures that dissuade child exploitation.
Reasoning
- The bill's primary impact will be on potential perpetrators and facilitators of child sexual abuse, especially those involved in child sexual tourism. Therefore, we must include individuals who might be in positions where the policy acts as a deterrent.
- Additionally, individuals directly benefiting from the preventive measures include those vulnerable to such exploitation, such as children in at-risk situations across the US and members of advocacy groups working against child exploitation.
- Resources for implementation are significant but not limitless, hence the focus will be on potential high-impact areas such as travel hubs, border controls, and social services focused on child welfare.
- Some individuals, such as those working in law enforcement and legal sectors, might experience increased workloads and need for instructional support due to the changes in legal requirements and prosecution processes.
- Lastly, the general public might witness a change in societal norms and a decrease in opportunities for crime as a direct result of stricter regulations, albeit indirectly.
Simulated Interviews
International Tour Operator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new law is a necessary step to curb a serious issue.
- Our company has to adjust our policies to comply, which includes additional training and monitoring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Child Protection Advocate (Washington, DC)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a big leap forward in protecting vulnerable children.
- Securing consistent funding and implementing further resources is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Lawyer specializing in Human Rights (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation fills significant legal gaps which previously allowed predators to escape justice.
- It will also add to caseloads as law enforcers and courts adjust to the new legal landscape.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Federal Law Enforcement Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The changes articulate a greater focus on international offenders, empowering us to act more decisively.
- Training and operational procedures will need updating.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Tech Company Executive (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stronger legislation complements our efforts in tech to keep children safe online.
- There might be increased demand for software services and collaborations with law enforcement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Airline Pilot (Dallas, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's focus on travel means more regulations for our industry.
- Increased vigilance required can be both a burden and a tool for prevention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Social Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aids in creating safer environments for vulnerable children, an area my work deeply connects to.
- Availability of resources and sufficient funding to support these changes is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Retired School Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm not directly affected, knowing our communities and children are better protected lifts a weight off many shoulders.
- Continued community education on these changes will enhance effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
University Student (Newark, NJ)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The legislation is an important aspect of future career paths in criminal justice.
- Understanding the changes impacts how we approach law enforcement and social work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pastor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rehabilitation and stricter laws must go hand in hand to prevent recidivism.
- Resources need to address root causes of such deviant behavior.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $21000000 (Low: $15750000, High: $31500000)
Year 3: $22050000 (Low: $16537500, High: $33075000)
Year 5: $24310000 (Low: $18232500, High: $36547500)
Year 10: $29601000 (Low: $22253000, High: $44551500)
Year 100: $117375820 (Low: $88203470, High: $176562230)
Key Considerations
- The bill focuses on enhancing the legal framework to prevent child sexual abuse, which primarily impacts the legal and healthcare sectors rather than economic activity directly.
- Implementation will require coordination across multiple federal and state bodies, impacting the speed and efficiency of realizing the bill's intended goals.
- Indeterminate long-term benefits from potential reductions in crime rates and improved public safety environment, which might lead to cost savings across various social services.