State of Oklahoma
House of Representatives
February 20, 2013
For immediate release:
Rep. Chuck Hoskin
Bill protecting children dies in House committee
OKLAHOMA CITY- House Republicans killed a bill in committee Tuesday afternoon that would prohibit adults from having sex with minors.
After a 10-6 vote on party lines, the Judiciary Committee killed HB 1306, which would prohibit those in ministerial positions, such as pastors, clergy, religious leaders, and youth ministers, from having sex with anyone at least 16 to 20 years old.
The bill was modeled after current law protecting minor children in an educational setting. It was written based on a constituent request to the bill’s author, Rep. Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita.
“What areas are we going to protect our children, and what areas are we not?” said Hoskin. “To cast a ‘no’ vote against protecting this age of children is hard to understand.”
“I was open to tweaks or improvements,” said Hoskin. “Unfortunately, I was not afforded that opportunity. Rather than amend it, they just killed it.”
Even though HB 1306 died in the House, the Senate passed a similar bill, SB 175. Therefore, the measure will come to the House once again.
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