Sex Crimes, Human Trafficking Targets of New Bill

A new bill approved in the state House of Representatives aims to crack down on human trafficking and sex work.

House Bill 663, which was unanimously passed 195-0 in the House, expands what the state considers "commercial sex acts" and raises the crime of buying or selling people for sex work from a third-degree to a possible first-degree felony.

Under the new bill, the definition of commercial sex includes being forced to perform "any sexual activity … in which anything of value is given to or received by another person" and includes "prostitution, participation in the production of pornography, performance in strip clubs and sexual activity … regardless of the age of the victim."

As the law is currently written, there are no provisions for "commercial sex" as it is defined. Under the new bill, a person could be found guilty of trafficking in persons if the charges include "commercial sex" in any of the instances outlined above.

The big part of the bill, however, is the amendment to the section of the law that deals with the "selling or buying of minors into commercial sex."

The offense is defined as any time a parent sells or transfers control of a minor, or offers to sell a minor with the knowledge that the minor will engage in commercial sex acts as a result of the sale. 

The bill's sponsor, Brian Ellis (R-11th) said in a release that he hopes the bill will deter future predators.

"Our current law is vague and doesn't provide our criminal justice system with the tools it needs to effectively prosecute and hold human traffickers accountable for their actions." 

You can review the specifics of the bill here.