Bill Would Create Exemption for Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A bipartisan proposal creates an exemption to Wisconsin’s sex offender registry for teenagers ages 15 to 18 who are convicted after having consensual sex.

State law make sit a crime for two people under the age of 18 to have sexual contact, regardless of consent. Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch and Democratic Representative Fred Kessler have written legislation that creates a new crime of “underage sexual activity” and lowers the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor. Other states have labeled it as the “Romeo and Juliet” exemption.

Kessler tells FOX 6, he’s not sure exactly how many teens who have engaged in consensual sex are on the registry, but he expects it’s less than 100. Kleefisch says 30 lawmakers have signed onto the bill since it began to circulate this month.