May. 05, 2025
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Reps. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) and Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) to give law enforcement more tools to catch child predators online is one step closer to becoming law. The House Judiciary Committee today approved the bill, known as Alicia’s Law, and it now heads to the full House for a vote.
The law is named in honor of Alicia Kozak, who was abducted from her Pittsburgh home by an internet predator at the age of 13 in 2002. She became the first known case of such a crime.
“Alicia’s story is heartbreaking, but sadly, it’s not unique anymore,” Ortitay said. “With the explosion of social media and online platforms, these crimes are happening more often — even when parents are doing everything right. This bill will help law enforcement not only find kids faster but also put the people who hurt them behind bars.”
House Bill 1098 would establish the Investigation and Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children Program within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The program would provide:
• Grants to law enforcement agencies to establish or support task forces of state and local prosecutors to investigate and prosecute internet crimes against those under the age of 18.
• Grants to task forces investigating child sexual exploitation to supplement federal funding.
• Grants to train task force members in best practices of detecting, investigating and prosecuting internet crimes against children.
These task forces would supplement and enhance the work of the existing federal Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, under which 61 task forces nationwide receive funding, training and technical assistance for the protection of children who are online. Only one of these currently operate in Pennsylvania.
Alicia’s Law already is in effect in 12 states.
“Protecting kids shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” he added. “Let’s give law enforcement the tools they need to do their job and keep our children safe.”
The 46th Legislative District includes South Fayette Township and McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Cecil, Chartiers, Mt. Pleasant and North Strabane (Districts 6,7,8 and 9) townships and Canonsburg, Houston and McDonald boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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