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Panel divides over decriminalization of sex work and expanded vacatur for trafficking survivors
Summary
Survivors, public‑health researchers and sex‑worker organizers told the committee that decriminalizing consensual adult sex work (H.1980) would improve safety, reporting and public health; survivor‑led groups and other witnesses supported vacatur/expungement but warned against conflating consensual work with trafficking.
The committee heard competing but partially overlapping proposals on how to address harms tied to sex work and trafficking. H.1980 would decriminalize consensual adult sex work; separate bills (for example H.1683/H.1116) seek to strengthen vacatur/expungement and to create a survivor‑centered commission to coordinate services.
Survivors and service providers described how records from prostitution‑era statutes block access to housing, employment and services. "A criminal record is more than just legal…
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