A bill for an act establishing the offense of assault by criminal groping, and providing penalties.

SSB 1004 establishes a new criminal offense called "assault by criminal groping" in Iowa, directly affecting individuals who commit such acts and their victims. The bill defines the offense as intentional contact with an intimate body part (inner thigh, groin, buttock, or breast) without intent to commit sexual abuse, and specifies penalties: a serious misdemeanor for a first offense, aggravated misdemeanor for a second, and a class D felony for third or subsequent offenses. It also requires sex offender registration - tier I for victims aged 14+ with a sexually motivated offense, or tier II for victims under 14. The law amends existing statutes (709.11A, 692A.102, 692A.126) to implement these provisions.