Crimes: minors.

Existing law makes every person who contacts or communicates with a minor, or attempts to contact or communicate with a minor, as specified, with intent to commit certain offenses, including any lewd or lascivious act, involving the minor, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, as provided. This bill would make any person who recruits, directs, coerces, or uses a minor to influence or facilitate illegal or harmful conduct toward another minor, or to harass, groom, or solicit any physical harm, sexual conduct, or images of an intimate body part from another minor, as specified, guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, as provided, in addition to any other applicable penalties. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law defines extortion as the obtaining of property or other consideration from another, with their consent, or the obtaining of an official act of a public officer, induced by a wrongful use of force or fear, or under color of official right. Existing law excludes from this provision a person under 18 years of age who has obtained consideration consisting of sexual conduct or an image of an intimate body part. This bill would except from that exclusion cases where the minor has knowingly threatened, intimidated, or coerced another minor to cause any physical harm, engage in any sexual conduct, or obtain an image of an intimate body part from another minor, including an image of an intimate body part that is produced by artificial intelligence. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.