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Heated testimony for and against increasing penalties for buyers in commercial sexual exploitation bill
Summary
Supporters of House Bill 1265 told the committee that elevating penalties for people who buy sex to a class C felony would reduce demand and protect vulnerable people; opponents said criminalizing buyers risks increasing violence and harms to sex workers.
House Bill 1265 drew sharply divided testimony to the House Community Safety Committee as prosecutors, law enforcement, advocates and people with lived experience debated whether raising penalties for buyers will reduce exploitation or increase harm.
The bill would elevate penalties for people who buy sex from a misdemeanor to a class C felony. Supporters said the change targets demand and would deter people who finance commercial sexual exploitation. Corine Schneff, criminal chief for the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office, said an active market correlates with more human trafficking and that where prostitution is tolerated demand increases. "Please support this legislation," Schneff told the committee.
King County human trafficking prosecutor Bradley McGinnis said buyers drive commercial…
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