D’Orsie to Introduce Legislation Targeting the Grooming of Minors

August 17, 2026

HARRISBURG - Rep. Joe D’Orsie (R-Manchester) today announced plans to introduce legislation establishing a dedicated offense within Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code to hold adults accountable when they exploit positions of authority and trust to groom minors in their care.

While Pennsylvania law provides criminal penalties for sexual offenses and unlawful contact with minors, D’Orsie notes the Crimes Code has a significant gap when it comes to intervening before grooming escalates into physical abuse or explicit sexual solicitation.

“Predators rarely cross the line all at once. They break down boundaries, build secrecy and manipulate a child’s trust long before overt sexual crimes occur. We need to give law enforcement the tools to intervene before a child is harmed, not wait until the damage is done,” D’Orsie said.

The proposed legislation would establish the offense of Grooming of a Minor, making it a crime for an adult responsible for a minor’s welfare to intentionally engage in a course of conduct designed to entice or facilitate prohibited sexual conduct. The bill would specifically address conduct that cultivates secrecy, inappropriate intimacy or dependency between an adult and a minor.

To ensure the legislation does not criminalize legitimate relationships between children and trusted adults, the proposal includes safe harbors for ordinary, transparent interactions that are incidental to educational, athletic, religious and professional roles.

“The need to protect our children is not political. As a dad, I know there is nothing more important than making sure our children are safe from those who would take advantage. As a legislator, I have a responsibility to make sure our laws give law enforcement the tools to intervene before grooming escalates into abuse. We must close this gap now and protect our children,” D’Orsie said.

Representative Joe D’Orsie
47th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Novalea Eckenroad
717.772.3161
neckenroad@pahousegop.com
RepJoeD.com