The death of Jordan DeMay, a Marquette teen who took his own life in 2022 after being caught up in a sextortion plot, prompted a new state law signed last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (Courtesy Photo)

LANSING — A host of bills that would, among other things, update Michigan’s hate crime law, criminalize sextortion and promote school safety were signed into law last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“Michiganders should feel safe whether they’re watching a movie at home or heading into the classroom,” said Whitmer, a Democrat.

“That’s why I’m proud to sign these 19 common-sense bills that will keep Michigan families and neighborhoods safe from gun violence and other violent crimes.”

Several of the bills Whitmer signed were focused on addressing firearm and school safety, starting with House bills 5450 and 5451, sponsored by state Reps. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, and Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township, respectively.

The new commission will focus on improving mental health outcomes for school-aged children, adolescents and their families, as well as reducing youth suicide rates in Michigan.

House bills 5887 and 5888, sponsored by state Reps. John Fitzgerald, D-Wyoming, and Kara Hope, D-Holt, respectively, create specific criminal penalties for sextortion, in which an individual blackmails others, threatening to distribute sexually explicit photographs or videos of another person.

More than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors were received by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations between October 2021 and March 2023.

At least 20 suicides occurred in these reports with the FBI saying this year that reports of sextortion of minors are on the rise.

Jordan DeMay, 17, of Marquette took his life in 2022 after international criminals tricked him into sending explicit photos for the purpose of sexually extorting him. His father, John DeMay, lobbied hard for the legislation.

“The law enforcement community is calling this an epidemic, and it really is, because the detectives are getting bombarded with this stuff. It’s just every day on their desk, and there’s a lot of it (that) goes unreported,” DeMay told the Michigan Advance when the bills passed the House in December.

The bills also define sentencing guidelines for the crimes.

House Bill 4485, sponsored by state Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, extends the time for filing an indictment of criminal sexual conduct charges in the second or third degree.

Under the bill, an indictment for CSC in the second or third degree could be found and filed by the victim’s 42nd birthday, regardless of when the offense occurred.