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Committee approves bill to treat minors engaged in prostitution as trafficking victims
Summary
A bipartisan measure from Vice Chair LaFleur clarifies that minors involved in prostitution-related offenses are victims of sex trafficking and are exempt from criminal prosecution; the committee reported HB 321 favorably after unanimous support from victim-service providers and survivor advocates.
Vice Chair LaFleur told the committee HB 321 closes a legal loophole by expressly exempting minors from prosecution under prostitution laws and treating them as victims of human trafficking. "There is no such thing as child prostitution," LaFleur said, describing the bill as aligning Louisiana with other states that prioritize protection and services for exploited minors.
Child-trafficking service providers and survivors urged the committee to adopt the bill. Mary Kate Andrepont of the Governor's Office on Human Trafficking Prevention and Deborah Solcher, BCFS Health and Human Services, emphasized that criminal responses to victims compound trauma and hinder recovery. "If our goal is to truly address child trafficking, our response must prioritize healing over punishment," Solcher said.
Father Jeff Bahee and survivor Audrey Wascomb described long-term recovery needs and the importance of a victim-centered system. Law-enforcement partners and victim-service organizations put forward technical and implementation ideas; the committee adopted amendments clarifying scope and support services and voted to report the bill favorably.
