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Oklahoma’s House advanced a bill in mid-May, raising the legal age of consent in Oklahoma from age 16 to 18.
House Bill 1003 was written by Republican Rep. Jim Olsen, and increases the age threshold for statutory rape from 16 to 18-years-old while preserving protections under the state’s pre-existing “Romeo and Juliet” law, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. “House Bill 1003 protects young Oklahomans without criminalizing teenagers who are growing up together,” Olsen said of the bill. “This bill maintains our responsibility to shield minors from exploitation while still showing grace to young people in close-in-age relationships. I am grateful for the work of my Senate coauthor, Senator Warren Hamilton, as well as Representative Tim Turner, to pass this bill and I appreciate their collaboration.” (MORE NEWS: House Republicans Release Sweeping Medicaid Bill, Targets ‘Big Abortion’)
“House Bill 1003 is one more tool to protect our children from grooming and trafficking. Our children deserve as much protection as we can provide. I appreciate Senator Hamilton and Representative Olsen for allowing me to be part of this bill and believe that we are one step closer to protecting our children,” said the bill’s co-author Republican State Rep. Tim Turner. The Senate amendments to the bill passed the House 60-21.
Read The Full Bill Here
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