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Home Hot Topic Proposal to remove first cousins from incest law was ‘unintentional change’, Kentucky lawmaker says

Proposal to remove first cousins from incest law was ‘unintentional change’, Kentucky lawmaker says

by Celia

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Kentucky state representative is adjusting course after facing criticism for a bill that, if passed, would have excluded first cousins from the list of familial relationships prohibited by the state’s incest laws.

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State Rep. Nick Wilson revealed his intention to reintroduce the legislation, House Bill 269, on Wednesday with the original list fully reinstated. The proposal seeks to augment the state’s existing laws, prohibiting not only sexual intercourse between family members but also extending the prohibition to include “sexual contact” – encompassing actions that may not align with the traditional definition of intercourse.

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Originally filed on Tuesday, Wilson’s bill drew attention for omitting “first cousin” from the roster of individuals classified as family members, a group that includes parents, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, ancestors, and descendants.

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Addressing the oversight in a social media post on Wednesday, Wilson acknowledged the “inadvertent change” during the drafting process and assured that the revised bill would be resubmitted with “first cousins” reinstated.

“The fact that I was able to file a bill, catch the mistake, withdraw the bill and refile within a 24-hour period shows we have a good system,” Wilson commented.

Serving in the House since last year, the 33-year-old representative from Whitley County, a University of Kentucky graduate, gained recognition by winning the “Survivor: David vs. Goliath” season in 2018.

In addition to HB 269, Wilson is a primary sponsor for three other bills: House Bill 182, aiming to broaden the definition of a “violent offender”; House Bill 270, seeking to outlaw traveling to Kentucky to engage in rape or sodomy; and House Bill 271, proposing the allowance of written reports on child dependency, neglect, or abuse.

Despite the initial misstep, Wilson maintains that HB 269 addresses a crucial issue of “familial and cyclical abuse that transcends generations of Kentuckians” and deserves consideration despite its rocky start.

“I understand that I made a mistake, but I sincerely hope my mistake doesn’t hurt the chances of the corrected version of the bill,” Wilson wrote. “It is a good bill, and I hope it will get a second chance.”

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