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Senate panel raises penalties for solicitation in human-trafficking package; bill passes
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 314, which increases penalties for solicitation tied to commercial sex as part of a three-bill human-trafficking package. Supporters said the measure aims to reduce demand; opponents warned it duplicates existing statutes and risks abuse.
Sen. Missy Irvin, District 24, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Senate Bill 314 raises penalties for people who solicit commercial sex, describing it as part of a three‑bill package to combat human trafficking. "This bill is designed to, try to eliminate the need, the the the demand for the human traffickers, by increasing the penalties for those who are soliciting ***," Irvin said.
Irvin said the bill makes the first offense a class A misdemeanor and increases the fine. "The first offense would still be an unclassified misdemeanor, but increase the the fine to at least thousand dollars and no more than a hundred and 20 days in jail ... First offense is class A misdemeanor," she said during the committee hearing.
Alex Benton of the…
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