A bill for an act relating to sexual misconduct with offenders and juveniles, and providing penalties.

This bill (HSB 529) upgrades penalties for sexual misconduct by certain staff working with vulnerable individuals. It increases penalties from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class D felony for peace officers, correctional staff, juvenile facility workers, or county jail employees who engage in sex acts with people in their custody - specifically offenders in state facilities, juveniles in placement facilities, or prisoners in county jails. A class D felony carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245. The bill directly affects correctional and juvenile facility employees, law enforcement, and contractors working in these settings. It does not change existing laws but raises the legal consequences for violations.