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PC 330

Para añadir un nuevo inciso (w) y reordenar alfabéticamente los subsiguientes incisos y enmendar los incisos (b), (aa), (bb) y (gg) del Artículo 3; y enmendar los artículos 5, 44, y 53 de la Ley 57-2023, conocida como “Ley para la Prevención del Maltrato, Preservación de la Unidad Familiar y para la Seguridad, Bienestar y Protección de Menores”, a los fines de incluir el “grooming” dentro de la definición de abuso sexual y como una de las causales tanto de maltrato como de negligencia institucional; realizar correcciones técnicas; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico bill adds "grooming" to child protection law's sexual abuse definition, enabling prosecution and intervention in online exploitation cases.

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Bill Summary · PC 330

Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 330 amends Puerto Rico's 2023 child protection law (Ley 57-2023) to formally include "grooming" (online sexual exploitation of minors) within the legal definition of sexual abuse. The bill also establishes grooming as grounds for both child maltreatment and institutional negligence findings, and makes technical corrections to related articles.

Why is this important

Grooming—predatory behavior where adults build trust with minors to exploit them sexually—is increasingly common in digital spaces but was not explicitly defined in Puerto Rico's child protection framework. This amendment closes a legal gap that could have prevented prosecution or protective intervention in cases involving online grooming. Explicitly criminalizing this conduct strengthens protections for minors in the digital age.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: Debate may arise over how broadly "grooming" is defined—whether it includes seemingly minor online contact or requires clear predatory intent, potentially affecting enforcement consistency
  • Institutional liability: Expanding institutional negligence to include grooming may increase legal exposure for schools, social services, and organizations, raising concerns about practical compliance and resource allocation
  • Digital privacy vs. protection: Implementation may raise questions about monitoring practices and data collection needed to detect grooming, balancing child safety against privacy rights

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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