§2. Sexual exploitation of protected adults
This section establishes a new federal criminal offense under 18 U.S.C. §2245A for knowingly using the mail or any means of interstate or foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a protected adult to transmit an intimate visual depiction (as defined in 15 U.S.C. §6851)—or attempting to do so—with intent to harm that adult. (Protected adult means an individual age 18 or older unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to (1) autism spectrum disorder; (2) intellectual developmental disorder, intellectual disability; (3) cerebral palsy; (4) Down syndrome; (5) major neurocognitive disorder; (6) dementia or Alzheimer’s disease; or (7) schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder—all as defined in the most recent relevant Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases; harm includes physical, psychological, financial, or reputational harm.) Penalties include, for a first offense, fine, imprisonment up to 1 year, or both; and for a second or subsequent offense, fine, imprisonment up to 2 years, or both. This section also makes a clerical amendment to the table of sections for 18 U.S.C. Ch. 109A.