Session: State Capitol, Room 104 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2199 Fax: (907) 465-4587 Interim: 10928 Eagle River Rd., Suite 140 Eagle River, AK 99577 Phone: (907) 694-6683 Fax: (907) 694-1015

Sponsor Statement for HB 243
Verify Age Required
for Defense in Sex Crimes

An Act relating to sexual assault or abuse of a minor

Periodically, sexual predators use the defense that they did not know that the victim was under age, and, that the victim said he/she was of age. House Bill 243 will force the perpetrator to show they took some action to verify the victim's age. This requirement is a step beyond the claim that they "reasonably believed" the victim was of age.

It is far too likely that fathers of babies born to teen mothers are much older than the mother. According to an Alaska Public Health Publication, 36% of known male partners of teen mothers (17 and under) were 21 years of age or older. There seems to be growing evidence that the teen pregnancies experienced by many young teens are the result of non-voluntary sex.

Our existing law that covers minors having sex with minors whose ages are within three years (AS 11.41.440) will still apply.

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