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Subcommittee backs felony upgrade for solicitation to target buyers and trafficking demand
Summary
Senate Bill 235, as amended, would upgrade solicitation/procurement of prostitution to a felony to deter buyers and aid trafficking prosecutions; witnesses included survivors, anti-trafficking advocates, law-enforcement allies and researchers who said felony classification increases enforcement incentives and may reduce cross-border displacement.
Senate Bill 235 would elevate solicitation and procurement of prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony, add an offense for grooming someone for prostitution and preserve an affirmative defense for persons who committed the offense under duress or as victims of trafficking. The Judiciary Subcommittee adopted the sponsor's substantive amendment and a technical amendment, then voted the bill out favorably as amended.
Sponsor Senator Kimbrell (Senator Kimbrell identified himself as working on the bill and described intent) said the bill's purpose is to shift legal pressure away from people who are prostituted — many of whom are coerced or trafficked — and…
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