SB 679
Increasing protection for minors when victims of human trafficking
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- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to strengthen protections for minors who are victims of human trafficking in West Virginia. It amends existing laws to clarify definitions related to trafficking, including coercion and debt bondage, and establishes specific penalties for those who exploit minors for commercial sexual activity. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that victims are not prosecuted and can petition to have their records expunged if they were trafficked.
Key provisions
- Defines key terms related to human trafficking, such as coercion, debt bondage, and forced labor.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption that a minor involved in prostitution is a victim of trafficking.
- Establishes specific penalties for patronizing minors in commercial sexual activity, with harsher penalties for those involving sexual servitude.
- Allows victims of trafficking to petition courts to vacate convictions or juvenile delinquency adjudications and expunge their records.
- Provides immunity from prosecution for minors who are victims of trafficking when involved in prostitution.
- Clarifies that labor provided by a minor to a parent, legal custodian, or legal guardian is not considered forced labor.
- Addresses the issue of tourist camps and their potential use for prostitution.
- Specifies that the court can admit evidence of a house's reputation in a prosecution for prostitution.
Who is affected
- Minors
- Human trafficking victims
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