{"kind":"ParliamentBill","bill":{"id":"cmvo1oql800tp01l1xmfgqu0n","number":24,"houseSequence":5,"displayNumber":"HC Bill 28-5","slug":"24","title":"Consent & Marriage Correction Act of 2026","longTitle":"An Act to amend the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire concerning the age of sexual consent, close-in-age exceptions, incest, civil marriage, marriage and divorce registration fees, graduated penalties, corrective education, and sexual-offense registration.","billType":"Bill","emergency":false,"originHouse":"Commons","sessionLabel":"28th Totemian Parliament","sessionSlug":"28th-totemian-parliament","introducedAtIso":"2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z","lastUpdatedIso":"2026-10-25T16:31:24.572Z","outcome":"enacted","specialCircumstances":false,"specialCircumstancesNote":null,"sponsor":{"memberId":"cmqwjlvya000001qrv80wvbml","memberNumber":1,"name":"Nuxart","role":"Member of the House of Commons","party":"The Birthday Party","partyColor":"#fb98d7","imageUrl":"/cdn/assets/parliament/member-portraits/cmqwjlvya000001qrv80wvbml-1783130407045-b51883e1.jpg?v=c0a13a282e634d89"},"coSponsors":[],"passage":[{"key":"origin","node":"Commons","title":"Introduced in the House of Commons","stages":[{"date":"2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Introduced","state":"complete"},{"date":"2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Division (two-thirds required)","state":"complete"}]},{"key":"revising","node":"Lords","title":"In the House of Lords","stages":[{"date":"2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Division (two-thirds required)","state":"complete"}]},{"key":"final","node":"Assent","title":"Final stages","stages":[{"date":"2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Chancellor's assent","state":"complete","decision":"approved"},{"date":"2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Imperial assent","state":"complete","decision":"approved"}]}],"bodyText":"Consent & Marriage Correction Act of 2026\nIntroduced By: Nuxart (The Birthday Party)\nDate: October 22nd, 2026\nBe it enacted by the Emperor’s most Excellent Imperial Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:\nLong title\nAn Act to amend the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire concerning the age of sexual consent, close-in-age exceptions, incest, civil marriage, marriage and divorce registration fees, graduated penalties, corrective education, and sexual-offense registration.\n\nStatement from Nuxart\nI present this bill to address incest, clarify the separate rules for sexual consent and civil marriage, and increase marriage and divorce registration fees so that marriage is treated as a serious commitment.\nChapter 1 - Civil Marriage and Divorce\nSection 1: Civil Marriage and Divorce\nTitle 1, Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire is amended to read:\nArticle 6: Civil Marriage and Divorce\nSection 1: Civil Marriage\nA civil marriage is a lawful union between two individuals who:\n(a) consent to be married;\n(b) are both of legal age in Totemia at least 18 years of age;\n(c) are not already married under Totemian law; and\n(d) are not prohibited from marrying by any superior law.\nSex, gender, sexuality, or identity shall not prevent two otherwise eligible individuals from entering into a civil marriage.\nFor purposes of this Article, legal age means the age of consent recognized by Totemian law. The minimum age for civil marriage is 18 years, independently of the age of sexual consent.\nSection 2: Marriage Fee\nThe fee to register a civil marriage shall be 125 1,000 SL.\nA civil marriage shall not be officially recognized until the marriage fee is paid.\nSection 3: Divorce\nEither spouse may initiate a divorce.\nConsent of both spouses shall not be required for divorce if one spouse lawfully initiates it and the divorce fee is paid.\nThe fee to register a divorce shall be 125 1,000 SL.\nOnce the divorce fee is paid and the divorce is filed, the marriage shall be dissolved under Totemian civil law.\nThe Totemian Government may record the marriage or divorce for administrative purposes. The Office of Civil Registration within the Ministry of Interior shall record civil marriages and divorces in the Imperial Civil Registry under Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 6.\nSection 4: Royal Marriages\nMarriages involving the royal family shall be exempt from these regulations.\nMarriages and divorces involving a member of the Imperial Family are exempt from the civil requirements and prohibitions in Sections 1, 2, 3, and 6, including the minimum marriage age, restriction on an existing marriage, prohibited biological relationships, fees, registration, and dissolution requirements.\nThe reigning Monarch may by Imperial Order prescribe the rules governing those marriages and divorces, including their formation, recognition, registration, dissolution, and any conditions or limits on an exemption.\nFor purposes of this Section, the Imperial Family comprises:\n(a) the reigning Emperor or Empress;\n(b) the reigning Monarch’s lawful consort, including the Imperial Consort, Queen consort of Omnislavia, Empress designate, or Empress consort of all the Totemias, as applicable under the Constitution;\n(c) the Caesarevich of Totemia or another lawfully designated Heir to the Imperial Throne;\n(d) Princes and Princesses recognized by the reigning Monarch as members of the Imperial Family; and\n(e) any other person expressly recognized by Imperial Order as a member of the Imperial Family.\nAn exemption applies to both parties to the covered marriage or divorce. A public office, regency, noble title, or relationship to a member of the Imperial Family does not alone confer membership for purposes of this Section.\nSection 5: Religious Non-Compulsion\nNothing in this Article shall require any religion, priest, minister, church, temple, or religious body to perform, bless, approve, or recognize a marriage contrary to its own doctrine.\nSection 6: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships\nA civil marriage shall not be registered between biological ancestors and descendants; full or half siblings; a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; or first cousins who share a biological grandparent. This prohibition applies regardless of adoption, legal parentage, ability to conceive, or prior knowledge of the relationship.\nEntering a marriage without knowledge of a prohibited relationship shall not itself constitute a criminal offense. If the relationship is later established, the Office of Civil Registration shall refer the matter to a competent court to determine the marriage’s civil status after notice to the parties and an opportunity to be heard.\nMarriage between second cousins or more distant relatives shall not be prohibited solely because of biological relatedness. Restrictions imposed by superior law remain applicable.\nChapter 2 - Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nSection 1: Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 18 of the Civil Code is amended by replacing its article heading and the headings of Sections 1 and 2, and by amending Section 3, as follows:\nArticle 18: Consent and Sexual Offenses; General Rules Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nSection 1: Requirements and Withdrawal of Consent Sexual Consent and Withdrawal\nFor sexual offenses, consent must be free, informed, specific to the conduct, and capable of being withdrawn at any time. Consent obtained by force, credible threat, unlawful coercion, abuse of custody, or deception as to the essential nature of the conduct is not valid.\nSection 2: Incapacity and Insufficient Indications of Consent Incapacity to Give Sexual Consent\nA person who is unconscious, asleep, or otherwise unable to understand and communicate a present choice cannot consent while that incapacity continues. A prior relationship, marriage, prior consent, silence, clothing, reputation, or failure to physically resist does not by itself establish consent.\nSection 3: Age of Consent and Exclusive Exception Close-in-Age Exceptions\nThe legal age for sexual consent remains nineteen shall be 21 Lenskov calendar years unless superior law expressly provides otherwise. The exclusive close-in-age exception is stated in Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 and shall not be enlarged by implication.\nWhere either participant is under 21, the younger participant’s age determines the applicable age-difference limit under Article 21. The minimum civil marriage age is governed separately by Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 6.\nSection 2: Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions, and Age Fraud\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by replacing its article heading and Sections 1 and 2, as follows:\nArticle 21: Age-Based Sexual Offenses Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions, and Age Fraud\nSection 1: Age-Based Offenses and the Close-in-Age Exception Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Close-in-Age Exceptions\nA person who knowingly engages in sexual conduct with a person below the legal age of consent commits an age-based sexual offense unless the close-in-age exception in this Article applies.\nThe exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid and: (a) the younger person is at least fourteen Lenskov calendar years old; (b) where the younger person is fourteen or fifteen, the older person is not more than twenty-four months older; or (c) where the younger person is sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen, the older person is not more than thirty-six months older.\nThe exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid, the younger participant is at least 14 years of age, and the difference between the participants’ ages does not exceed:\n(a) 24 months where the younger participant is 14 or 15;\n(b) 36 months where the younger participant is 16 or 17;\n(c) 48 months where the younger participant is 18;\n(d) 60 months where the younger participant is 19; and\n(e) 72 months where the younger participant is 20.\nAge differences shall be measured from the participants’ actual dates of birth. The stated maximum is inclusive. The younger participant’s age governs even if the older participant is 21 or older. No age-difference limit applies under this Article where both participants are at least 21. A prior relationship does not exempt later conduct from these requirements.\nNo close-in-age exception applies where a participant uses force, coercion, threats, material age fraud, or abuse of custodial, educational, employment, military, judicial, governmental, financial, organizational, or comparable authority, or where a participant is otherwise incapable of valid consent.\nUsing a payment, gift, benefit, or financial dependence to coerce sexual conduct may constitute an offense under Articles 18 through 20. A difference in wealth or income alone does not establish an offense.\nA person relying on the exception bears no burden to prove innocence; once the issue is fairly raised, the prosecution shall prove the relevant ages and the absence of the exception beyond a reasonable doubt.\nSection 2: Material Age Fraud\nA person commits material age fraud where, for the purpose of obtaining sexual consent that would otherwise be unlawful or refused, the person knowingly and materially misrepresents their age or knowingly presents falsified age records and the misrepresentation actually induces the sexual conduct.\nSection 3: Independently Criminal Conduct\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21, Section 3 is amended by adding the following sentence:\nSection 3: Independently Criminal Conduct\nNothing in this Article permits force, coercion, abuse of authority, conduct with a person incapable of consent, or another independently criminal act.\nThis includes knowing incest under Article 23 of this Chapter.\nSection 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by adding Section 4 immediately after Section 3, to read:\nSection 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud\nFor an offense under Section 1, the court may impose any lawful combination of the following measures within the applicable range:\n(a) Limited age-gap violation: imprisonment not exceeding 7 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 10,000 SL, or both. This range applies only where the younger participant is at least 16 years of age, the age difference exceeds the permitted limit by no more than 12 months, consent is otherwise legally valid, and no force, coercion, material age fraud, incapacity, or abuse of authority is proved.\n(b) Ordinary age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both, where neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (c) applies.\n(c) Aggravated age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both, where the younger participant is under 14 years of age, or the offense involves force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of custody or authority.\nFor material age fraud under Section 2, the court may impose imprisonment not exceeding 14 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 25,000 SL, or both.\nFor a first limited age-gap violation, the court shall consider education or community service instead of a fine or imprisonment and shall give reasons for imposing custody. Education, community service, protective measures, and registration are governed by Article 24. A younger participant shall not be punished merely for being the person protected by the age restriction; that protection does not excuse a separately proved offense.\nChapter 3 - Incest\nSection 1: Incest\nTitle 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 23 immediately after Article 22, Lawful Duels, and before Chapter 9, to read:\nArticle 23: Incest\nSection 1: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships\nFor purposes of this Article, prohibited close biological relatives are:\n(a) biological ancestors and descendants at any generation;\n(b) full or half siblings;\n(c) a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; and\n(d) first cousins who share a biological grandparent.\nBiological relationship governs regardless of adoption or legal parentage. Second cousins and more distant relatives are excluded. Adoption, stepfamily membership, guardianship, or foster care alone does not establish incest; offenses involving age, coercion, custody, or abuse of authority remain applicable.\nSection 2: Knowing Incest\nA person commits incest by intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse or other sexual contact with a prohibited close biological relative while actually knowing the biological facts establishing that relationship. The prosecution shall prove the conduct and knowledge at the time of the conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.\nA person who did not know of the relationship when the conduct occurred is not guilty of incest for that conduct. Later discovery does not make earlier conduct criminal, but further prohibited conduct after acquiring knowledge is punishable.\nA shared name, family record, biological probability, or opportunity to discover the relationship does not by itself establish actual knowledge. The court may consider relevant evidence of knowledge. Ignorance of the legal prohibition does not excuse knowledge of the biological relationship.\nSection 3: Individual Responsibility and Other Offenses\nConsent, a close-in-age exception, civil marriage, or inability to conceive does not excuse knowing incest. Each participant’s liability shall be determined separately according to that person’s conduct and knowledge.\nA person subjected to force, coercion, incapacity, or nonconsensual conduct shall not be criminally liable merely for being the other participant. Separate sexual, age-based, and abuse-of-authority offenses remain subject to their own elements and the cumulative-liability rules in Title 7, Chapter 1, Article 10.\nSection 4: Evidence and Judicial Determination\nA biological relationship may be established by reliable civil records, ancestry evidence, admissions, or lawfully obtained genetic evidence. Disputed relationships shall be determined by a competent court. This Article does not authorize compulsory genetic testing or access to protected records without lawful authority.\nSection 5: Punishment\nOrdinary knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both.\nKnowing incest is aggravated where the offense involves a participant under 14 years of age, force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of parental, custodial, or comparable authority. Aggravated knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both.\nThe court may also impose the education, community service, protective measures, and registration authorized by Article 24. Each participant’s liability remains subject to Sections 2 and 3.\nChapter 4 - Sexual Offense Sentencing and Registration\nSection 1: Education, Protective Measures, and Registration\nTitle 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 24 immediately after Article 23, as inserted by Chapter 3 of this Act, and before Chapter 9, to read:\nArticle 24: Sexual Offense Sentencing, Education, and Registration\nSection 1: Scope and Judicial Discretion\nThis Article governs education, protective measures, and registration following conviction under Articles 19, 20, 21, or 23.\nIn selecting a proportionate sentence, the court shall consider conduct, knowledge, age, participation, exploitation, harm, prior convictions, rehabilitation, and risk of reoffending. Aggravating facts shall be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Fines shall be determined under Title 7, Chapter 2, Article 6.\nThe court may select education, community service, a fine, imprisonment, or an authorized combination. No minimum fine or imprisonment is required. The court shall record reasons for the sentence, registration, and protective restrictions.\nSection 2: Education and Community Service\nThe court may order 1 to 8 hours of education for a limited age-gap violation, or 1 to 24 hours for another covered offense. Education shall address the consent, age-verification, coercion, family-boundary, or other conduct relevant to the conviction. The Civil Corrections Administration’s Rehabilitation, Education, and Reintegration Service shall arrange delivery or a court-approved equivalent and report completion.\nCommunity service shall not exceed 12 hours for a limited age-gap violation or 60 hours for another offense under Article 21 or 23. The court shall set reasonable completion dates and may allow installments. Education shall be provided without charge. Unavailability of a course, genuine inability, or inability to pay shall not by itself justify imprisonment or a finding of deliberate noncompliance.\nSection 3: Protective Measures and Other Offenses\nOn findings of necessity, the court may impose no-contact requirements, restrictions on specified premises or activities, or restrictions on authority or access connected to the offense for a term not exceeding 365 calendar days. An order shall identify its purpose, scope, duration, and any necessary arrangements for lawful family, employment, educational, or administrative contact. It may be varied or ended when no longer necessary.\nRestitution, separately proved offenses, prior-conviction enhancements, and abuse-of-authority enhancements remain governed by Title 7, Chapters 1 and 2. The same harm shall not support duplicate recovery. These sentencing ranges do not reduce punishment otherwise authorized for a separately proved rape, sexual assault, coercion, forgery, or other offense.\nSection 4: Sexual Offense Register\nThe National Gendarmerie and Police Administration shall maintain a confidential Sexual Offense Register. Following a final conviction under Article 19, 20, 21, or 23, the court may order registration only after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and a reasoned finding supported by evidence that the offender presents a continuing risk of sexual violence, coercion, or exploitation of a person below the age of consent or otherwise incapable of consent.\nConviction alone does not require registration. A limited age-gap violation, noncoercive age fraud, or knowing incest between otherwise consenting persons shall not by itself establish the required risk. No person shall be registered merely for being a victim, having an unknown biological relationship, or participating in conduct permitted by a close-in-age exception.\nThe registration order shall state a term of 30 to 365 calendar days and its commencement date. The court shall review continuing necessity at least every 90 calendar days, and the registered person may seek earlier review after a material change. Extension requires a fresh hearing and finding of continuing risk; registration under the same conviction shall not exceed 730 calendar days in total.\nSection 5: Register Administration and Compliance\nThe Register shall record only the offender’s lawful identifying information, relevant conviction, registration term, and operative protective conditions. Access shall be limited to competent courts and authorized investigative, prosecutorial, and corrections personnel for their lawful functions. The Register shall not be published. Disclosure to another person requires a court order identifying a specific protective necessity. Victim identities shall not be included in a disclosed extract.\nA registered person shall receive written notice of the order, reporting duties, expiry date, and review rights, and shall report a material change in required identifying or contact information within 7 calendar days. A person who knowingly refuses to comply after notice and a reasonable opportunity to correct the failure may be fined not more than 10,000 SL or imprisoned for not more than 7 calendar days, or both. An innocent error or practical inability is not that offense.\nAn active entry shall be removed when the order expires or is discharged, or when the relevant conviction is quashed. Ordinary judicial records may be retained according to law. The Administration may prescribe secure administrative procedures but shall not add grounds for registration, extend a judicial term, or create additional criminal duties or penalties.\nSection 6: Prospective Application\nThe penalties and registration powers added by this Act apply only to offenses committed after this Act enters into force. Liability and punishment for earlier conduct remain governed by the law applicable when it occurred.\nEND OF BILL","bodyHtml":"<h1 style=\"text-align:center\"> </h1><h1 style=\"text-align:center\">Consent &amp; Marriage Correction Act of 2026</h1><p><strong>Introduced By: Nuxart (The Birthday Party)</strong></p><p><strong>Date: October 22nd, 2026</strong></p><p>Be it enacted by the Emperor’s most Excellent Imperial Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:</p><h2>Long title</h2><p>An Act to amend the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire concerning the age of sexual consent, close-in-age exceptions, incest, civil marriage, marriage and divorce registration fees, graduated penalties, corrective education, and sexual-offense registration.<br/></p><h2>Statement from Nuxart</h2><p>I present this bill to address incest, clarify the separate rules for sexual consent and civil marriage, and increase marriage and divorce registration fees so that marriage is treated as a serious commitment.</p><h2><br/></h2><h2>Chapter 1 - Civil Marriage and Divorce</h2><p><strong>Section 1: Civil Marriage and Divorce</strong></p><p>Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire is amended to read:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><strong>Article 6: Civil Marriage and Divorce</strong></p><p><strong>Section 1: Civil Marriage</strong></p><p>A civil marriage is a lawful union between two individuals who:</p><p>(a) consent to be married;</p><p>(b) are both <span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>of legal age in Totemia </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">at least 18 years of age</span>;</p><p>(c) are not already married under Totemian law; and</p><p>(d) are not prohibited from marrying by any superior law.</p><p>Sex, gender, sexuality, or identity shall not prevent two otherwise eligible individuals from entering into a civil marriage.</p><p><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>For purposes of this Article, legal age means the age of consent recognized by Totemian law. </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The minimum age for civil marriage is 18 years, independently of the age of sexual consent.</span></p><p><strong>Section 2: Marriage Fee</strong></p><p>The fee to register a civil marriage shall be <span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>125 </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">1,000</span> SL.</p><p>A civil marriage shall not be officially recognized until the marriage fee is paid.</p><p><strong>Section 3: Divorce</strong></p><p>Either spouse may initiate a divorce.</p><p>Consent of both spouses shall not be required for divorce if one spouse lawfully initiates it and the divorce fee is paid.</p><p>The fee to register a divorce shall be <span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>125 </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">1,000</span> SL.</p><p>Once the divorce fee is paid and the divorce is filed, the marriage shall be dissolved under Totemian civil law.</p><p><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>The Totemian Government may record the marriage or divorce for administrative purposes. </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The Office of Civil Registration within the Ministry of Interior shall record civil marriages and divorces in the Imperial Civil Registry under Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 6.</span></p><p><strong>Section 4: Royal Marriages</strong></p><p><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>Marriages involving the royal family shall be exempt from these regulations.</s></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Marriages and divorces involving a member of the Imperial Family are exempt from the civil requirements and prohibitions in Sections 1, 2, 3, and 6, including the minimum marriage age, restriction on an existing marriage, prohibited biological relationships, fees, registration, and dissolution requirements.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The reigning Monarch may by Imperial Order prescribe the rules governing those marriages and divorces, including their formation, recognition, registration, dissolution, and any conditions or limits on an exemption.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">For purposes of this Section, the Imperial Family comprises:</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(a) the reigning Emperor or Empress;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(b) the reigning Monarch’s lawful consort, including the Imperial Consort, Queen consort of Omnislavia, Empress designate, or Empress consort of all the Totemias, as applicable under the Constitution;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(c) the Caesarevich of Totemia or another lawfully designated Heir to the Imperial Throne;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(d) Princes and Princesses recognized by the reigning Monarch as members of the Imperial Family; and</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(e) any other person expressly recognized by Imperial Order as a member of the Imperial Family.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">An exemption applies to both parties to the covered marriage or divorce. A public office, regency, noble title, or relationship to a member of the Imperial Family does not alone confer membership for purposes of this Section.</span></p><p><strong>Section 5: Religious Non-Compulsion</strong></p><p>Nothing in this Article shall require any religion, priest, minister, church, temple, or religious body to perform, bless, approve, or recognize a marriage contrary to its own doctrine.</p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 6: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A civil marriage shall not be registered between biological ancestors and descendants; full or half siblings; a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; or first cousins who share a biological grandparent. This prohibition applies regardless of adoption, legal parentage, ability to conceive, or prior knowledge of the relationship.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Entering a marriage without knowledge of a prohibited relationship shall not itself constitute a criminal offense. If the relationship is later established, the Office of Civil Registration shall refer the matter to a competent court to determine the marriage’s civil status after notice to the parties and an opportunity to be heard.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Marriage between second cousins or more distant relatives shall not be prohibited solely because of biological relatedness. Restrictions imposed by superior law remain applicable.</span></p></div><h2><br/></h2><h2>Chapter 2 - Sexual Consent and Age of Consent</h2><p><strong>Section 1: Sexual Consent and Age of Consent</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 18 of the Civil Code is amended by replacing its article heading and the headings of Sections 1 and 2, and by amending Section 3, as follows:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><strong>Article 18: </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Consent and Sexual Offenses; General Rules </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Sexual Consent and Age of Consent</strong></span></p><p><strong>Section 1: </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Requirements and Withdrawal of Consent </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Sexual Consent and Withdrawal</strong></span></p><p>For sexual offenses, consent must be free, informed, specific to the conduct, and capable of being withdrawn at any time. Consent obtained by force, credible threat, unlawful coercion, abuse of custody, or deception as to the essential nature of the conduct is not valid.</p><p><strong>Section 2: </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Incapacity and Insufficient Indications of Consent </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Incapacity to Give Sexual Consent</strong></span></p><p>A person who is unconscious, asleep, or otherwise unable to understand and communicate a present choice cannot consent while that incapacity continues. A prior relationship, marriage, prior consent, silence, clothing, reputation, or failure to physically resist does not by itself establish consent.</p><p><strong>Section 3: Age of Consent and </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Exclusive Exception </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Close-in-Age Exceptions</strong></span></p><p>The legal age for sexual consent <span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>remains nineteen </s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\">shall be 21</span> <span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>Lenskov calendar </s></span>years unless superior law expressly provides otherwise. The exclusive close-in-age exception is stated in Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 and shall not be enlarged by implication.</p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Where either participant is under 21, the younger participant’s age determines the applicable age-difference limit under Article 21. The minimum civil marriage age is governed separately by Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 6.</span></p></div><p><strong>Section 2: Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions, and Age Fraud</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by replacing its article heading and Sections 1 and 2, as follows:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><strong>Article 21: </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Age-Based Sexual Offenses </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions,</strong></span><strong> and Age Fraud</strong></p><p><strong>Section 1: </strong><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s><strong>Age-Based Offenses and the Close-in-Age Exception </strong></s></span><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Close-in-Age Exceptions</strong></span></p><p>A person who knowingly engages in sexual conduct with a person below the legal age of consent commits an age-based sexual offense unless the close-in-age exception in this Article applies.</p><p><span style=\"color:#ff0000\"><s>The exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid and: (a) the younger person is at least fourteen Lenskov calendar years old; (b) where the younger person is fourteen or fifteen, the older person is not more than twenty-four months older; or (c) where the younger person is sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen, the older person is not more than thirty-six months older.</s></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid, the younger participant is at least 14 years of age, and the difference between the participants’ ages does not exceed:</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(a) 24 months where the younger participant is 14 or 15;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(b) 36 months where the younger participant is 16 or 17;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(c) 48 months where the younger participant is 18;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(d) 60 months where the younger participant is 19; and</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(e) 72 months where the younger participant is 20.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Age differences shall be measured from the participants’ actual dates of birth. The stated maximum is inclusive. The younger participant’s age governs even if the older participant is 21 or older. No age-difference limit applies under this Article where both participants are at least 21. A prior relationship does not exempt later conduct from these requirements.</span></p><p>No close-in-age exception applies where a participant uses force, coercion, threats, material age fraud, or abuse of custodial, educational, employment, military, judicial, governmental, financial, organizational, or comparable authority, or where a participant is otherwise incapable of valid consent.</p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Using a payment, gift, benefit, or financial dependence to coerce sexual conduct may constitute an offense under Articles 18 through 20. A difference in wealth or income alone does not establish an offense.</span></p><p>A person relying on the exception bears no burden to prove innocence; once the issue is fairly raised, the prosecution shall prove the relevant ages and the absence of the exception beyond a reasonable doubt.</p><p><strong>Section 2: Material Age Fraud</strong></p><p>A person commits material age fraud where, for the purpose of obtaining sexual consent that would otherwise be unlawful or refused, the person knowingly and materially misrepresents their age or knowingly presents falsified age records and the misrepresentation actually induces the sexual conduct.</p></div><p><strong>Section 3: Independently Criminal Conduct</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21, Section 3 is amended by adding the following sentence:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><strong>Section 3: Independently Criminal Conduct</strong></p><p>Nothing in this Article permits force, coercion, abuse of authority, conduct with a person incapable of consent, or another independently criminal act.</p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">This includes knowing incest under Article 23 of this Chapter.</span></p></div><p><strong>Section 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by adding Section 4 immediately after Section 3, to read:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">For an offense under Section 1, the court may impose any lawful combination of the following measures within the applicable range:</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(a) Limited age-gap violation: imprisonment not exceeding 7 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 10,000 SL, or both. This range applies only where the younger participant is at least 16 years of age, the age difference exceeds the permitted limit by no more than 12 months, consent is otherwise legally valid, and no force, coercion, material age fraud, incapacity, or abuse of authority is proved.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(b) Ordinary age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both, where neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (c) applies.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(c) Aggravated age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both, where the younger participant is under 14 years of age, or the offense involves force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of custody or authority.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">For material age fraud under Section 2, the court may impose imprisonment not exceeding 14 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 25,000 SL, or both.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">For a first limited age-gap violation, the court shall consider education or community service instead of a fine or imprisonment and shall give reasons for imposing custody. Education, community service, protective measures, and registration are governed by Article 24. A younger participant shall not be punished merely for being the person protected by the age restriction; that protection does not excuse a separately proved offense.</span></p></div><h2><br/></h2><h2>Chapter 3 - Incest</h2><p><strong>Section 1: Incest</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 23 immediately after Article 22, Lawful Duels, and before Chapter 9, to read:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Article 23: Incest</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 1: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">For purposes of this Article, prohibited close biological relatives are:</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(a) biological ancestors and descendants at any generation;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(b) full or half siblings;</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(c) a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; and</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">(d) first cousins who share a biological grandparent.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Biological relationship governs regardless of adoption or legal parentage. Second cousins and more distant relatives are excluded. Adoption, stepfamily membership, guardianship, or foster care alone does not establish incest; offenses involving age, coercion, custody, or abuse of authority remain applicable.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 2: Knowing Incest</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A person commits incest by intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse or other sexual contact with a prohibited close biological relative while actually knowing the biological facts establishing that relationship. The prosecution shall prove the conduct and knowledge at the time of the conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A person who did not know of the relationship when the conduct occurred is not guilty of incest for that conduct. Later discovery does not make earlier conduct criminal, but further prohibited conduct after acquiring knowledge is punishable.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A shared name, family record, biological probability, or opportunity to discover the relationship does not by itself establish actual knowledge. The court may consider relevant evidence of knowledge. Ignorance of the legal prohibition does not excuse knowledge of the biological relationship.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 3: Individual Responsibility and Other Offenses</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Consent, a close-in-age exception, civil marriage, or inability to conceive does not excuse knowing incest. Each participant’s liability shall be determined separately according to that person’s conduct and knowledge.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A person subjected to force, coercion, incapacity, or nonconsensual conduct shall not be criminally liable merely for being the other participant. Separate sexual, age-based, and abuse-of-authority offenses remain subject to their own elements and the cumulative-liability rules in Title 7, Chapter 1, Article 10.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 4: Evidence and Judicial Determination</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A biological relationship may be established by reliable civil records, ancestry evidence, admissions, or lawfully obtained genetic evidence. Disputed relationships shall be determined by a competent court. This Article does not authorize compulsory genetic testing or access to protected records without lawful authority.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 5: Punishment</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Ordinary knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Knowing incest is aggravated where the offense involves a participant under 14 years of age, force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of parental, custodial, or comparable authority. Aggravated knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The court may also impose the education, community service, protective measures, and registration authorized by Article 24. Each participant’s liability remains subject to Sections 2 and 3.</span></p></div><h2><br/></h2><h2>Chapter 4 - Sexual Offense Sentencing and Registration</h2><p><strong>Section 1: Education, Protective Measures, and Registration</strong></p><p>Title 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 24 immediately after Article 23, as inserted by Chapter 3 of this Act, and before Chapter 9, to read:</p><div class=\"bill-box\"><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Article 24: Sexual Offense Sentencing, Education, and Registration</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 1: Scope and Judicial Discretion</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">This Article governs education, protective measures, and registration following conviction under Articles 19, 20, 21, or 23.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">In selecting a proportionate sentence, the court shall consider conduct, knowledge, age, participation, exploitation, harm, prior convictions, rehabilitation, and risk of reoffending. Aggravating facts shall be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Fines shall be determined under Title 7, Chapter 2, Article 6.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The court may select education, community service, a fine, imprisonment, or an authorized combination. No minimum fine or imprisonment is required. The court shall record reasons for the sentence, registration, and protective restrictions.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 2: Education and Community Service</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The court may order 1 to 8 hours of education for a limited age-gap violation, or 1 to 24 hours for another covered offense. Education shall address the consent, age-verification, coercion, family-boundary, or other conduct relevant to the conviction. The Civil Corrections Administration’s Rehabilitation, Education, and Reintegration Service shall arrange delivery or a court-approved equivalent and report completion.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Community service shall not exceed 12 hours for a limited age-gap violation or 60 hours for another offense under Article 21 or 23. The court shall set reasonable completion dates and may allow installments. Education shall be provided without charge. Unavailability of a course, genuine inability, or inability to pay shall not by itself justify imprisonment or a finding of deliberate noncompliance.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 3: Protective Measures and Other Offenses</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">On findings of necessity, the court may impose no-contact requirements, restrictions on specified premises or activities, or restrictions on authority or access connected to the offense for a term not exceeding 365 calendar days. An order shall identify its purpose, scope, duration, and any necessary arrangements for lawful family, employment, educational, or administrative contact. It may be varied or ended when no longer necessary.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Restitution, separately proved offenses, prior-conviction enhancements, and abuse-of-authority enhancements remain governed by Title 7, Chapters 1 and 2. The same harm shall not support duplicate recovery. These sentencing ranges do not reduce punishment otherwise authorized for a separately proved rape, sexual assault, coercion, forgery, or other offense.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 4: Sexual Offense Register</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The National Gendarmerie and Police Administration shall maintain a confidential Sexual Offense Register. Following a final conviction under Article 19, 20, 21, or 23, the court may order registration only after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and a reasoned finding supported by evidence that the offender presents a continuing risk of sexual violence, coercion, or exploitation of a person below the age of consent or otherwise incapable of consent.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">Conviction alone does not require registration. A limited age-gap violation, noncoercive age fraud, or knowing incest between otherwise consenting persons shall not by itself establish the required risk. No person shall be registered merely for being a victim, having an unknown biological relationship, or participating in conduct permitted by a close-in-age exception.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The registration order shall state a term of 30 to 365 calendar days and its commencement date. The court shall review continuing necessity at least every 90 calendar days, and the registered person may seek earlier review after a material change. Extension requires a fresh hearing and finding of continuing risk; registration under the same conviction shall not exceed 730 calendar days in total.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 5: Register Administration and Compliance</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The Register shall record only the offender’s lawful identifying information, relevant conviction, registration term, and operative protective conditions. Access shall be limited to competent courts and authorized investigative, prosecutorial, and corrections personnel for their lawful functions. The Register shall not be published. Disclosure to another person requires a court order identifying a specific protective necessity. Victim identities shall not be included in a disclosed extract.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">A registered person shall receive written notice of the order, reporting duties, expiry date, and review rights, and shall report a material change in required identifying or contact information within 7 calendar days. A person who knowingly refuses to comply after notice and a reasonable opportunity to correct the failure may be fined not more than 10,000 SL or imprisoned for not more than 7 calendar days, or both. An innocent error or practical inability is not that offense.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">An active entry shall be removed when the order expires or is discharged, or when the relevant conviction is quashed. Ordinary judicial records may be retained according to law. The Administration may prescribe secure administrative procedures but shall not add grounds for registration, extend a judicial term, or create additional criminal duties or penalties.</span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\"><strong>Section 6: Prospective Application</strong></span></p><p><span style=\"color:#66135a\">The penalties and registration powers added by this Act apply only to offenses committed after this Act enters into force. Liability and punishment for earlier conduct remain governed by the law applicable when it occurred.</span></p></div><p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>END OF BILL</strong></p>","publicPath":"/parliament/bills/24","contentPath":"/parliament/bills/24/contents","contentTextPath":"/api/public/parliament/bills/24/text","analysisPath":"/parliament/bills/24/analysis","analysisApiPath":"/api/public/parliament/bills/24/analysis","bodyPlainText":"Consent & Marriage Correction Act of 2026\nIntroduced By: Nuxart (The Birthday Party)\nDate: October 22nd, 2026\nBe it enacted by the Emperor’s most Excellent Imperial Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:\nLong title\nAn Act to amend the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire concerning the age of sexual consent, close-in-age exceptions, incest, civil marriage, marriage and divorce registration fees, graduated penalties, corrective education, and sexual-offense registration.\n\nStatement from Nuxart\nI present this bill to address incest, clarify the separate rules for sexual consent and civil marriage, and increase marriage and divorce registration fees so that marriage is treated as a serious commitment.\nChapter 1 - Civil Marriage and Divorce\nSection 1: Civil Marriage and Divorce\nTitle 1, Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Civil Code of the Totemian Empire is amended to read:\nArticle 6: Civil Marriage and Divorce\nSection 1: Civil Marriage\nA civil marriage is a lawful union between two individuals who:\n(a) consent to be married;\n(b) are both of legal age in Totemia at least 18 years of age;\n(c) are not already married under Totemian law; and\n(d) are not prohibited from marrying by any superior law.\nSex, gender, sexuality, or identity shall not prevent two otherwise eligible individuals from entering into a civil marriage.\nFor purposes of this Article, legal age means the age of consent recognized by Totemian law. The minimum age for civil marriage is 18 years, independently of the age of sexual consent.\nSection 2: Marriage Fee\nThe fee to register a civil marriage shall be 125 1,000 SL.\nA civil marriage shall not be officially recognized until the marriage fee is paid.\nSection 3: Divorce\nEither spouse may initiate a divorce.\nConsent of both spouses shall not be required for divorce if one spouse lawfully initiates it and the divorce fee is paid.\nThe fee to register a divorce shall be 125 1,000 SL.\nOnce the divorce fee is paid and the divorce is filed, the marriage shall be dissolved under Totemian civil law.\nThe Totemian Government may record the marriage or divorce for administrative purposes. The Office of Civil Registration within the Ministry of Interior shall record civil marriages and divorces in the Imperial Civil Registry under Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 6.\nSection 4: Royal Marriages\nMarriages involving the royal family shall be exempt from these regulations.\nMarriages and divorces involving a member of the Imperial Family are exempt from the civil requirements and prohibitions in Sections 1, 2, 3, and 6, including the minimum marriage age, restriction on an existing marriage, prohibited biological relationships, fees, registration, and dissolution requirements.\nThe reigning Monarch may by Imperial Order prescribe the rules governing those marriages and divorces, including their formation, recognition, registration, dissolution, and any conditions or limits on an exemption.\nFor purposes of this Section, the Imperial Family comprises:\n(a) the reigning Emperor or Empress;\n(b) the reigning Monarch’s lawful consort, including the Imperial Consort, Queen consort of Omnislavia, Empress designate, or Empress consort of all the Totemias, as applicable under the Constitution;\n(c) the Caesarevich of Totemia or another lawfully designated Heir to the Imperial Throne;\n(d) Princes and Princesses recognized by the reigning Monarch as members of the Imperial Family; and\n(e) any other person expressly recognized by Imperial Order as a member of the Imperial Family.\nAn exemption applies to both parties to the covered marriage or divorce. A public office, regency, noble title, or relationship to a member of the Imperial Family does not alone confer membership for purposes of this Section.\nSection 5: Religious Non-Compulsion\nNothing in this Article shall require any religion, priest, minister, church, temple, or religious body to perform, bless, approve, or recognize a marriage contrary to its own doctrine.\nSection 6: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships\nA civil marriage shall not be registered between biological ancestors and descendants; full or half siblings; a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; or first cousins who share a biological grandparent. This prohibition applies regardless of adoption, legal parentage, ability to conceive, or prior knowledge of the relationship.\nEntering a marriage without knowledge of a prohibited relationship shall not itself constitute a criminal offense. If the relationship is later established, the Office of Civil Registration shall refer the matter to a competent court to determine the marriage’s civil status after notice to the parties and an opportunity to be heard.\nMarriage between second cousins or more distant relatives shall not be prohibited solely because of biological relatedness. Restrictions imposed by superior law remain applicable.\nChapter 2 - Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nSection 1: Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 18 of the Civil Code is amended by replacing its article heading and the headings of Sections 1 and 2, and by amending Section 3, as follows:\nArticle 18: Consent and Sexual Offenses; General Rules Sexual Consent and Age of Consent\nSection 1: Requirements and Withdrawal of Consent Sexual Consent and Withdrawal\nFor sexual offenses, consent must be free, informed, specific to the conduct, and capable of being withdrawn at any time. Consent obtained by force, credible threat, unlawful coercion, abuse of custody, or deception as to the essential nature of the conduct is not valid.\nSection 2: Incapacity and Insufficient Indications of Consent Incapacity to Give Sexual Consent\nA person who is unconscious, asleep, or otherwise unable to understand and communicate a present choice cannot consent while that incapacity continues. A prior relationship, marriage, prior consent, silence, clothing, reputation, or failure to physically resist does not by itself establish consent.\nSection 3: Age of Consent and Exclusive Exception Close-in-Age Exceptions\nThe legal age for sexual consent remains nineteen shall be 21 Lenskov calendar years unless superior law expressly provides otherwise. The exclusive close-in-age exception is stated in Title 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 and shall not be enlarged by implication.\nWhere either participant is under 21, the younger participant’s age determines the applicable age-difference limit under Article 21. The minimum civil marriage age is governed separately by Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 6.\nSection 2: Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions, and Age Fraud\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by replacing its article heading and Sections 1 and 2, as follows:\nArticle 21: Age-Based Sexual Offenses Age of Consent, Close-in-Age Exceptions, and Age Fraud\nSection 1: Age-Based Offenses and the Close-in-Age Exception Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Close-in-Age Exceptions\nA person who knowingly engages in sexual conduct with a person below the legal age of consent commits an age-based sexual offense unless the close-in-age exception in this Article applies.\nThe exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid and: (a) the younger person is at least fourteen Lenskov calendar years old; (b) where the younger person is fourteen or fifteen, the older person is not more than twenty-four months older; or (c) where the younger person is sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen, the older person is not more than thirty-six months older.\nThe exception applies only where consent is otherwise legally valid, the younger participant is at least 14 years of age, and the difference between the participants’ ages does not exceed:\n(a) 24 months where the younger participant is 14 or 15;\n(b) 36 months where the younger participant is 16 or 17;\n(c) 48 months where the younger participant is 18;\n(d) 60 months where the younger participant is 19; and\n(e) 72 months where the younger participant is 20.\nAge differences shall be measured from the participants’ actual dates of birth. The stated maximum is inclusive. The younger participant’s age governs even if the older participant is 21 or older. No age-difference limit applies under this Article where both participants are at least 21. A prior relationship does not exempt later conduct from these requirements.\nNo close-in-age exception applies where a participant uses force, coercion, threats, material age fraud, or abuse of custodial, educational, employment, military, judicial, governmental, financial, organizational, or comparable authority, or where a participant is otherwise incapable of valid consent.\nUsing a payment, gift, benefit, or financial dependence to coerce sexual conduct may constitute an offense under Articles 18 through 20. A difference in wealth or income alone does not establish an offense.\nA person relying on the exception bears no burden to prove innocence; once the issue is fairly raised, the prosecution shall prove the relevant ages and the absence of the exception beyond a reasonable doubt.\nSection 2: Material Age Fraud\nA person commits material age fraud where, for the purpose of obtaining sexual consent that would otherwise be unlawful or refused, the person knowingly and materially misrepresents their age or knowingly presents falsified age records and the misrepresentation actually induces the sexual conduct.\nSection 3: Independently Criminal Conduct\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21, Section 3 is amended by adding the following sentence:\nSection 3: Independently Criminal Conduct\nNothing in this Article permits force, coercion, abuse of authority, conduct with a person incapable of consent, or another independently criminal act.\nThis includes knowing incest under Article 23 of this Chapter.\nSection 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud\nTitle 7, Chapter 8, Article 21 is amended by adding Section 4 immediately after Section 3, to read:\nSection 4: Punishment for Age-Based Sexual Offenses and Age Fraud\nFor an offense under Section 1, the court may impose any lawful combination of the following measures within the applicable range:\n(a) Limited age-gap violation: imprisonment not exceeding 7 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 10,000 SL, or both. This range applies only where the younger participant is at least 16 years of age, the age difference exceeds the permitted limit by no more than 12 months, consent is otherwise legally valid, and no force, coercion, material age fraud, incapacity, or abuse of authority is proved.\n(b) Ordinary age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both, where neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (c) applies.\n(c) Aggravated age-based offense: imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both, where the younger participant is under 14 years of age, or the offense involves force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of custody or authority.\nFor material age fraud under Section 2, the court may impose imprisonment not exceeding 14 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 25,000 SL, or both.\nFor a first limited age-gap violation, the court shall consider education or community service instead of a fine or imprisonment and shall give reasons for imposing custody. Education, community service, protective measures, and registration are governed by Article 24. A younger participant shall not be punished merely for being the person protected by the age restriction; that protection does not excuse a separately proved offense.\nChapter 3 - Incest\nSection 1: Incest\nTitle 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 23 immediately after Article 22, Lawful Duels, and before Chapter 9, to read:\nArticle 23: Incest\nSection 1: Prohibited Close Biological Relationships\nFor purposes of this Article, prohibited close biological relatives are:\n(a) biological ancestors and descendants at any generation;\n(b) full or half siblings;\n(c) a biological aunt or uncle and that person’s niece or nephew; and\n(d) first cousins who share a biological grandparent.\nBiological relationship governs regardless of adoption or legal parentage. Second cousins and more distant relatives are excluded. Adoption, stepfamily membership, guardianship, or foster care alone does not establish incest; offenses involving age, coercion, custody, or abuse of authority remain applicable.\nSection 2: Knowing Incest\nA person commits incest by intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse or other sexual contact with a prohibited close biological relative while actually knowing the biological facts establishing that relationship. The prosecution shall prove the conduct and knowledge at the time of the conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.\nA person who did not know of the relationship when the conduct occurred is not guilty of incest for that conduct. Later discovery does not make earlier conduct criminal, but further prohibited conduct after acquiring knowledge is punishable.\nA shared name, family record, biological probability, or opportunity to discover the relationship does not by itself establish actual knowledge. The court may consider relevant evidence of knowledge. Ignorance of the legal prohibition does not excuse knowledge of the biological relationship.\nSection 3: Individual Responsibility and Other Offenses\nConsent, a close-in-age exception, civil marriage, or inability to conceive does not excuse knowing incest. Each participant’s liability shall be determined separately according to that person’s conduct and knowledge.\nA person subjected to force, coercion, incapacity, or nonconsensual conduct shall not be criminally liable merely for being the other participant. Separate sexual, age-based, and abuse-of-authority offenses remain subject to their own elements and the cumulative-liability rules in Title 7, Chapter 1, Article 10.\nSection 4: Evidence and Judicial Determination\nA biological relationship may be established by reliable civil records, ancestry evidence, admissions, or lawfully obtained genetic evidence. Disputed relationships shall be determined by a competent court. This Article does not authorize compulsory genetic testing or access to protected records without lawful authority.\nSection 5: Punishment\nOrdinary knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 30 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 50,000 SL, or both.\nKnowing incest is aggravated where the offense involves a participant under 14 years of age, force, coercion, a credible threat, incapacity to consent, or abuse of parental, custodial, or comparable authority. Aggravated knowing incest may be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 90 calendar days or a fine not exceeding 150,000 SL, or both.\nThe court may also impose the education, community service, protective measures, and registration authorized by Article 24. Each participant’s liability remains subject to Sections 2 and 3.\nChapter 4 - Sexual Offense Sentencing and Registration\nSection 1: Education, Protective Measures, and Registration\nTitle 7, Chapter 8 of the Civil Code is amended by inserting Article 24 immediately after Article 23, as inserted by Chapter 3 of this Act, and before Chapter 9, to read:\nArticle 24: Sexual Offense Sentencing, Education, and Registration\nSection 1: Scope and Judicial Discretion\nThis Article governs education, protective measures, and registration following conviction under Articles 19, 20, 21, or 23.\nIn selecting a proportionate sentence, the court shall consider conduct, knowledge, age, participation, exploitation, harm, prior convictions, rehabilitation, and risk of reoffending. Aggravating facts shall be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Fines shall be determined under Title 7, Chapter 2, Article 6.\nThe court may select education, community service, a fine, imprisonment, or an authorized combination. No minimum fine or imprisonment is required. The court shall record reasons for the sentence, registration, and protective restrictions.\nSection 2: Education and Community Service\nThe court may order 1 to 8 hours of education for a limited age-gap violation, or 1 to 24 hours for another covered offense. Education shall address the consent, age-verification, coercion, family-boundary, or other conduct relevant to the conviction. The Civil Corrections Administration’s Rehabilitation, Education, and Reintegration Service shall arrange delivery or a court-approved equivalent and report completion.\nCommunity service shall not exceed 12 hours for a limited age-gap violation or 60 hours for another offense under Article 21 or 23. The court shall set reasonable completion dates and may allow installments. Education shall be provided without charge. Unavailability of a course, genuine inability, or inability to pay shall not by itself justify imprisonment or a finding of deliberate noncompliance.\nSection 3: Protective Measures and Other Offenses\nOn findings of necessity, the court may impose no-contact requirements, restrictions on specified premises or activities, or restrictions on authority or access connected to the offense for a term not exceeding 365 calendar days. An order shall identify its purpose, scope, duration, and any necessary arrangements for lawful family, employment, educational, or administrative contact. It may be varied or ended when no longer necessary.\nRestitution, separately proved offenses, prior-conviction enhancements, and abuse-of-authority enhancements remain governed by Title 7, Chapters 1 and 2. The same harm shall not support duplicate recovery. These sentencing ranges do not reduce punishment otherwise authorized for a separately proved rape, sexual assault, coercion, forgery, or other offense.\nSection 4: Sexual Offense Register\nThe National Gendarmerie and Police Administration shall maintain a confidential Sexual Offense Register. Following a final conviction under Article 19, 20, 21, or 23, the court may order registration only after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and a reasoned finding supported by evidence that the offender presents a continuing risk of sexual violence, coercion, or exploitation of a person below the age of consent or otherwise incapable of consent.\nConviction alone does not require registration. A limited age-gap violation, noncoercive age fraud, or knowing incest between otherwise consenting persons shall not by itself establish the required risk. No person shall be registered merely for being a victim, having an unknown biological relationship, or participating in conduct permitted by a close-in-age exception.\nThe registration order shall state a term of 30 to 365 calendar days and its commencement date. The court shall review continuing necessity at least every 90 calendar days, and the registered person may seek earlier review after a material change. Extension requires a fresh hearing and finding of continuing risk; registration under the same conviction shall not exceed 730 calendar days in total.\nSection 5: Register Administration and Compliance\nThe Register shall record only the offender’s lawful identifying information, relevant conviction, registration term, and operative protective conditions. Access shall be limited to competent courts and authorized investigative, prosecutorial, and corrections personnel for their lawful functions. The Register shall not be published. Disclosure to another person requires a court order identifying a specific protective necessity. Victim identities shall not be included in a disclosed extract.\nA registered person shall receive written notice of the order, reporting duties, expiry date, and review rights, and shall report a material change in required identifying or contact information within 7 calendar days. A person who knowingly refuses to comply after notice and a reasonable opportunity to correct the failure may be fined not more than 10,000 SL or imprisoned for not more than 7 calendar days, or both. An innocent error or practical inability is not that offense.\nAn active entry shall be removed when the order expires or is discharged, or when the relevant conviction is quashed. Ordinary judicial records may be retained according to law. The Administration may prescribe secure administrative procedures but shall not add grounds for registration, extend a judicial term, or create additional criminal duties or penalties.\nSection 6: Prospective Application\nThe penalties and registration powers added by this Act apply only to offenses committed after this Act enters into force. Liability and punishment for earlier conduct remain governed by the law applicable when it occurred.\nEND OF BILL","exports":{"json":"/api/parliament/bills/24/export.json","md":"/api/parliament/bills/24/export.md","txt":"/api/parliament/bills/24/export.txt","pdf":"/api/parliament/bills/24/export.pdf","docx":"/api/parliament/bills/24/export.docx"}}}