Advocates and service groups back immunity for reporting crimes in the sex trades and call to repeal enhanced fines; one reform moves to full Senate

Senate Bill 278 (criminal-legal immunity for reporting violent crimes by people in the sex trades) and Senate Bill 296 (repeal of an enhanced monetary penalty that applies only to women convicted of prostitution-related offenses) were discussed March 25 with broad support from survivors, service providers and civil-rights groups.

Sponsor Senator Murray said the immunity measure would allow sex-trade workers and trafficking survivors to report crimes and seek medical care without fear of arrest or prosecution, and noted that nine other states have adopted similar immunity laws. Advocates and service providers, including representatives from the Ishtar Collective and the ACLU, testified the change would increase reporting of violent crimes and trafficking and improve police investigations.

Melissa Bridal, an attorney who represented victims and survivors, said immunity is “pro-law-enforcement” because it removes barriers to reporting and helps investigators. Gregory Waskamalewski of Amnesty International and community groups supported repeal of the enhanced fines in SB 296, which the committee unanimously moved to the full Senate.

Senate Bill 278 was held so the committee could consider precise statutory language and which categories of conduct and reporting would be covered; SB 296 (removing the additional fines) was moved to the full Senate by voice vote.

Why it matters: Immunity laws are intended to protect victims and witnesses who might otherwise avoid reporting because of the risk of arrest; removing gender-specific enhanced fines addresses unequal penalty structures and economic burdens on people convicted of prostitution-related offenses.

Outcome: SB 296 sent to full Senate; SB 278 held for further study and drafting.