HCR0332026 Regular Session

States findings of the Legislature and establishes an interim committee to study the crime of sextortion and to make recommendations to the Legislature.

SEXTORTION -- States findings of the Legislature and establishes an interim committee to study the crime of sextortion and to make recommendations to the Legislature.

SEXTORTION

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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The proposed concurrent resolution would establish a legislative interim committee to study the crime of sextortion, its impact on victims, and strategies for prevention and response. The interim committee would examine how sextortion is carried out, its effects, particularly on minors, and review existing statutes to determine whether changes are needed to protect our youth. The Legislative Council would determine the interim committee's membership, including legislators from both parties and representatives from relevant agencies such as the Attorney General’s Office, the Idaho Department of Education, and the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline. The interim committee would also be authorized to gather input from stakeholders and affected individuals and would report its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the First Regular Session of the Sixty-ninth Idaho Legislature.

FISCAL NOTE

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The resolution provides that non-legislative members of the interim committee would not receive compensation from legislative funds, while the Legislative Services Office would supply staff support. As noted in the draft, the interim committee would be required to submit its final report by January 31, 2027. Any legislator’s travel or related expenses would be handled through existing legislative appropriations, and no additional impact on the State General Fund is anticipated as a result of this resolution.

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 33
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION	1
STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM COMMITTEE TO	2
STUDY THE CRIME OF SEXTORTION AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGIS-	3
LATURE.	4
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:	5
WHEREAS, predators threatening to disclose intimate images of another	6
in exchange for money, more sexual content, or other favors is becoming an	7
increasing problem throughout the country; and	8
WHEREAS, these images can be obtained through coercion, deception, or	9
hacking and can be either real or created artificially so as to be indistin-	10
guishable from a real image; and	11
WHEREAS, such a crime is commonly referred to as "sextortion," and those	12
under 18 years of age are the most common victims; and	13
WHEREAS, victims of sextortion can experience mental health issues such	14
as anxiety and depression, financial loss, reputational damage, and in some	15
cases may attempt suicide or other self-harm; and	16
WHEREAS, victims of sextortion, especially those who are minors, often	17
feel fear, shame, or embarrassment and fail to tell anyone or ask for help;	18
and	19
WHEREAS, the Idaho Office of the Attorney General states that sextor-	20
tion cases are one of the main issues currently being reported to the office;	21
and	22
WHEREAS, it would greatly benefit the people of Idaho for the Legisla-	23
ture to study the crime of sextortion, the effects on its victims, and means	24
of prevention; to review ways to strengthen or expand current statutes re-	25
garding sextortion; and to address ways to help and support the victims of	26
sextortion.	27
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-	28
sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and	29
the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislative Council is authorized to	30
establish an interim committee to undertake and complete a study of the crime	31
of sextortion, means of prevention, and the effects on its victims, in par-	32
ticular those victims under 18 years of age, and to make recommendations re-	33
garding ways to strengthen current statutes to address the effects on vic-	34
tims of sextortion. The Legislative Council shall determine the number of	35
legislators and membership from each house appointed to the interim commit-	36
tee, shall appoint members of both the majority party and minority party, and	37
shall authorize the interim committee to receive input, advice, and assis-	38
tance from interested and affected parties who are not members of the Legis-	39
lature. Other members of the interim committee shall include a representa-	40
tive from the Office of the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Chil-	41
dren Unit, the Idaho Department of Education, and the Idaho Crisis and Sui-	42
cide Hotline.	43

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2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the cochairs of the interim committee who	1
are appointed by the Legislative Council may appoint additional nonvoting	2
members of the interim committee to represent stakeholders.	3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nonlegislative members of the interim com-	4
mittee shall not be reimbursed from legislative funds for per diem, mileage,	5
or other expenses.	6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Services Office shall pro-	7
vide staff support to the interim committee.	8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interim committee shall, by January 31,	9
2027, report its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if	10
any, to the First Regular Session of the Sixty-ninth Idaho Legislature.	11

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