A Republican lawmaker is withdrawing and refiling a bill that would have added “sexual contact” to Kentucky’s incest statute because of a filing error that struck first cousins from the list of relationships that legally qualify as incest in the state.

A Republican lawmaker is withdrawing and refiling a bill that would have added “sexual contact” to Kentucky’s incest statute because of a filing error that struck first cousins from the list of relationships that legally qualify as incest in the state.

  • CoffeeAddictOP
    9•1 year ago

    Wilson, a 33-year-old former public defender and prosecutor who still practices as a private attorney, said the original intent of the bill was to create a new law protecting Kentuckians from “acts that don’t amount to intercourse” from people with familial relationships.

    “The purpose of the bill is to add sexual contact to the incest statute. Currently, incest only applies in cases of intercourse,” he said. “So we’re seeing cases of sexual touching, groping, those sorts of sexual activities by uncles, stepdads, people with those familial relationships … and they’re not included in the incest statute.”

    […]

    After it’s refiled, Wilson wants the bill to get a second chance.

    “I think that shows our system is working. What I filed doesn’t automatically become law. There’s many opportunities to review it, fix it and then pursue it,” Wilson said. “Because I think it’s a great bill. I think it’s needed. I’ve seen lots of victims of this. Familial abuse, it happens, and it’s a very bad thing.”

    Personally, I am not sure how exactly “first-cousin” ended up being accidentally struck because of this. Regardless, Rep. Wilson has withdrawn the bill and clarified his intent to strengthen the law, not weaken it.