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Sexual Abuse Act of 1986

Public Law 99-654 · H.R. 4745 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 14, 1986 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers (D-MI-1)

Cosponsors (13): Rep. Steny Hoyer,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Sexual Abuse Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for a series of graded sexual offenses consisting of: (1) aggravated sexual abuse; (2) sexual abuse; (3) sexual abuse of a minor or ward; and (4) abusive sexual conduct.

Defines aggravated sexual abuse as knowingly causing another person to engage in sexual conduct by: (1) using force against that person; or (2) threatening or placing that person in fear of death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping. Provides additional penalties when that person is a child (under 12 years of age).

Defines sexual abuse as: (1) knowingly causing another person to engage in sexual conduct by threatening or placing that person in fear that another person will be subjected to death, serious bodily harm, or kidnapping; or (2) engaging in sexual conduct with another person who is incapable of appreciating the nature of the conduct or of declining participation.

Defines the sexual abuse of a minor as knowingly engaging in a sexual act with another person who is: (1) between the ages of 12 and 16; and (2) at least four years younger. Defines the sexual abuse of a ward as knowingly engaging in a sexual act with another person who is: (1) in official detention; and (2) under the custodial, supervisory, or disciplinary authority of the person so engaging. Establishes defenses for the sexual abuse of a minor or ward by establishing that: (1) the defendant believed the other person had attained the age of 16; or (2) the persons engaged in the sexual act were married to each other at that time.

Defines abusive sexual conduct for the purposes of this Act.

Repeals the chapter on rape. Makes conforming changes to the Public Health Service Act, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, the Mental Health Systems Act, and the Federal Aviation Act.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

  1. Nov 14, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-654.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 5, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 18, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 3, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
  6. Oct 2, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
  7. May 28, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  8. May 13, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  9. May 12, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  10. May 9, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  11. May 6, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  12. May 5, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  13. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.