Throughout this week, KTVO will be highlighting some of the new Iowa laws that will take effect July 1st.
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- On Wednesday, KTVO spoke with State Senator Keith Kreiman (D-Bloomfield) regarding Senate File 393.
The new law is intended to protect children, age 14 and under, from being forced by a parent or guardian to view obscene materials...a process referred to as "grooming" to get children adapted to viewing such material.
"What's been found is that exposing children to pornography is really a predecessor to sex abuse of children. So hopefully this will prevent a number of parents and other adults from providing access to pornography to their kids and reduce the amount of sex abuse," Senator Kreiman said.
He told KTVO that there are consequences for the violators of this law.
"So what can happen is you can be put on the child abuse registry and you can also, if you are a caretaker of the child, you can lose that child. It's grounds for 'Child In Need of Assistance' proceedings. So I think it does have some teeth and I hope people become aware of that law," Senator Kreiman said.
The bill was filed by both Senator Kreiman and State Senator Becky Schmitz (D-Fairfield).
"It came about as a result of a discussion between Senator Schmitz and I. And I think she had spoken to a constituent who had the good idea and was concerned about it. And frankly, that's where most legislators get their good ideas. It's not just from themselves, they get it from their constituents by talking to people," Senator Kreiman said.
You can find more information about the new Iowa laws taking effect July 1st on the website for the Iowa House of Representatives.
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