Grooming a minor
KRS 510.160
in effect510.160. Grooming a minor
(1) A person is guilty of grooming a minor when:
(a) Being eighteen (18) years of age or older, he or she engages in grooming behavior directed at a minor who is under fourteen (14) years old with the intent to entice, coerce, solicit, or induce the minor to engage in sexual conduct with the person or another person; or
(b) Being a person in a position of authority or position of special trust, as those terms are defined in KRS 532.045, he or she engages in grooming behavior directed at a minor who is under eighteen (18) years old with the intent to: 1. Entice, coerce, solicit, or induce the minor to engage in sexual conduct with the person or another person; or 2. Develop an intimate or secretive relationship with the minor.
(2) (a) For a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, grooming a minor is a Class A misdemeanor unless the minor is under twelve (12) years old, in which case it is a Class D felony.
(b) For a violation of subsection (1)(b) of this section, grooming a minor is a Class D felony unless the minor is under twelve (12) years old, in which case it is a Class C felony.
(c) Any sentence imposed on a defendant under this section shall run concurrently with any sentence imposed for an offense specified in this chapter arising from the same course of conduct with the same victim.
(3) This section shall not be construed to prevent a person from communicating with a minor for any lawful or legitimate purpose, including but not limited to:
(a) Teaching curriculum on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases as provided in KRS 158.1415;
(b) The use of a traceable communication system by a school district employee or volunteer as provided in KRS 160.145;
(c) The diagnosis or treatment of a minor by a health care provider in a health care facility;
(d) Communicating with a minor to determine if the minor is dependent, neglected, or abused;
(e) Age-appropriate conversations about puberty and human sexuality with a minor by the minor's sibling or parent or guardian; and
(f) Any conversation with a minor that is part of a person's job -related or volunteer-related duties.
Effective: July 15, 2026
History: Created 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2026.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57422Fetched: 10/20/2026