Legislation Takes Aim At Child Abusers

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- New legislation authored by state Rep. Sally Kern aims to crack down on child abusers.

House Bill 1549, which was unanimously approved by the House Judiciary Committee this week, would allow victims who were exploited as a child in the production of pornography to "bring a civil action against the producer, promoter, or intentional possessor of such child pornography, regardless of whether the victim is now an adult."

"Clearly, you can never make right the horrific wrong done to any child who has been sexually exploited," said Kern, R-Oklahoma City. "However, this bill would provide another avenue for former victims to make their abusers pay the price, not only through the criminal justice system but through significant financial penalties imposed through civil courts."

The Office of the Attorney General stated they supported the legislation.

The bill will now head to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.