Combatting Internet Crimes Against Children Act

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Policy Status

  • Type: Model Policy
  • Status: Draft
  • Date Introduced: July 24, 2026

Task Forces

  • Communications and Technology

    • Tags

  • 2026 Annual Meeting

    • Summary

    This model policy addresses children’s online safety by establishing a State Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program. First developed in 1998 by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is a multinational and multijurisdictional network of 61 ICAC task forces with the mission to develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. In FY 2024, ICAC task forces helped conduct over 200,000 investigations leading to the arrest of more than 12,600 offenders. The State ICAC Grant Program established in this model policy ensures state and local law enforcement have access to adequate resources—including personnel, overtime pay, forensic and investigative training, and technology—to protect children from exploitation and hold criminals accountable. 
    Draft

    Combatting Internet Crimes Against Children Act

    Section 1. Definitions 

    • (A) “Affiliate” means a local law enforcement agency in this State which has a current memorandum of understanding with an established internet crimes against children task force or which has been designated by the [DEPARTMENT] as being in good standing.  
    • (B) “Good Standing” means a local law enforcement agency in this State that receives CyberTips from one of the task forces and follows Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program standards in its investigation of internet crimes against children  
    • (C) “Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force” means an internet crimes against children task force located in this State which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice.  

    Section 2. Findings 

    The Legislature finds the following:  

    • (A) The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. This help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.  
    • (B) The Program is a national network of at least 61 coordinated task forces representing over 5,400 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.  
    • (C) The Legislature intends to create an account dedicated to combating internet crimes against children, promoting education on internet safety to minors and to the public, and rescuing child victims from abuse and exploitation.  

    Section 3. Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program Established 

    • (A) There is created within the [DEPARTMENT] the Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program to award grants to local law enforcement affiliates to support their work to combat online child exploitation and to target individuals online preying upon children or attempting to do so.  
    • (B) The [DEPARTMENT] shall annually award to local law enforcement affiliates any funds specifically appropriated for the grant program to cover expenses related to their work to combat internet crimes against children. Grants must be provided to local law enforcement affiliates if funds are appropriated for the purpose by law.  
    • (C) Such funds may be awarded to cover overtime pay, travel, investigative or digital forensics training, hardware, or software.  
    • (D) The [DEPARTMENT] may establish criteria and set specific time periods for the acceptance of applications and for the selection process for awarding grant funds.  

    Section 4. Funding Program Established

    • (A) There is created within the [DEPARTMENT] the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program to provide a stable funding source for the task forces.   
    • (B) Funding for the program shall consist of moneys appropriated by the Legislature. Program funds may be used only to support the administration and activities of law enforcement affiliates in their efforts to combat internet crimes against children, including the funding of personnel, overtime pay, travel, training, and technology purchases.   
    • (C) Moneys appropriated to the program must be distributed in the following amounts:  
      • i. Eighty percent divided equally among the task forces; and  
      • ii. Twenty percent to the [DEPARTMENT] to support its efforts in combatting internet crimes against children.  

    Section 5. Rulemaking 

    The [DEPARTMENT] may promulgate rules to implement and administer this Act.