Bill > S1046

This bill aims to prevent human trafficking and improve the health and safety of sex workers. It does this by: 1. Defining "commercial sex" and "sex worker" in state law. 2. Establishing a "Human Trafficking Prevention and Sex Worker Project" within the Department of Public Health to develop a strategic plan to support the health, safety, and autonomy of sex workers and those vulnerable to human trafficking. This includes providing access to resources like housing, healthcare, legal aid, and harm reduction. 3. Amending the state's disorderly conduct law to remove references to "lewd, wanton and lascivious persons" and "keepers of noisy and disorderly houses." 4. Creating an interagency committee to study decriminalizing sex work, including examining criminal penalties, labor protections, services for sex workers, and alternatives to policing. 5. Allowing for the expungement of convictions for certain sex work-related offenses like "common street walking" and "common nightwalker." 6. Providing immunity from certain drug and sex work-related charges for individuals who report a crime. The overall goal is to reduce the vulnerability and criminalization of sex workers while also addressing human trafficking prevention and support.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1046