HB 2234

Abstract

Victims of sex trafficking; affirmative defense to prosecution for certain offenses. Provides an affirmative defense to prosecution for prostitution and keeping, residing in, or frequenting a bawdy place if, at the time of the offense leading to such charge, such person was a victim of sex trafficking, as defined in the bill, and (i) was coerced to engage in the offense through the use of force or intimidation of another, (ii) such offense was committed as part of a commercial sex trafficking scheme, or (iii) such offense was committed at the direction of an operator of a commercial sex trafficking scheme. The bill provides that a victim of sex trafficking may raise such affirmative defense regardless of whether any other person has been arrested for, prosecuted for, charged with, or convicted of an offense.

Victims of human trafficking; affirmative defenseto prosecution for certain offenses. Provides an affirmativedefense to prosecution for prostitution and keeping, residing in,or frequenting a bawdy place if, at the time of the offense leadingto such charge, such person was a victim of human trafficking, asdefined in the bill, and (i) was coerced to engage in the offensethrough the use of force or intimidation of another, (ii) such offensewas committed as part of a commercial sex trafficking scheme, or (iii) such offense was committed at the direction of an operator of a commercialsex trafficking scheme. The bill provides that a victim of humantrafficking may raise such affirmative defense regardless of whether any other person has been arrested for, prosecuted for, charged with,or convicted of an offense.