Amend 18 Pa. C.S. § 6318 to clarify that the statute applies not only when a defendant communicates with an actual minor, but also when the defendant communicates with a person they believe to be a minor.

Under the current language, the statute can create legal ambiguity in cases where an adult knowingly attempts to contact someone they believe is under the age of 18, but the individual is another adult they believe to be a minor. This ambiguity can make prosecution more difficult and may provide a basis for defendants to seek dismissal or reduction of charges, despite evidence demonstrating an intent to commit offenses against a child.

To address this issue, subsection (a)(1) should be amended to include language such as "a minor or a person the actor believes to be a minor." This change would better align the statute with its purpose of protecting children by focusing on the offender's criminal intent rather than the actual identity of the person contacted. It would also reduce unnecessary legal challenges and strengthen prosecutors' ability to hold offenders accountable in undercover investigations designed to prevent crimes against children.