A bill that its sponsor says will bring Georgia into the 21st century in terms of prosecuting child molestation cases is on its way to be signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, said the bill he authored closes a loophole imposed by the judicial branch of government, which recently struck down the statute being applied to child molestations that occur via the Internet.

Now Georgia can continue to prosecute predators who target children here by using streaming video, webcams and the like to expose themselves, Ramsey said.

The new bill allows offenders to be charged with child molestation if they conduct a lewd act witnessed by a child over the Internet, Ramsey said.

The Senate made a minor modification to Ramsey’s bill and the new version was approved by the House Monday after Ramsey answered several questions from his fellow lawmakers.

Ramsey said he was pleased because this legislation was one of his top priorities entering the session.

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