MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — A bill defining grooming and establishing criminal penalties in state statute is ready for the governor’s signature.
His office confirms Governor Tony Evers will sign the measure which passed both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature with bipartisan support. Thorp Republican Jesse James is the bill’s Senate author:
“It has become abundantly clear that Wisconsin needs criminal definition of grooming by making it the felony it should be. Law enforcement and district attorneys will now be able to fully prosecute these types of cases,” James said.
The bill codifies in state law a distinct crime for grooming a child and provides a range of felony charges for prosecutors. Persons convicted of grooming would face mandatory registration as a sex offender.