Bill
Bill > AB79
WI AB79
Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution.
summary
Introduced
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, a person who is under the age of 18 may be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor. Under this bill, a person who is under the age of 18 may not be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution. This bill also eliminates the option under current law in cases where a person under the age of 18 has committed an act of prostitution for a court to enter a consent decree under the Juvenile Justice Code, or a deferred prosecution agreement under the Juvenile Justice Code or adult criminal statutes, if the court determines that a consent decree or deferred prosecution agreement will serve the best interests of the person being prosecuted and will not harm society.
AI Summary
This bill addresses how the legal system handles minors (under 18 years old) who are involved in prostitution by fundamentally changing the approach to prosecution and legal consequences. Specifically, the bill eliminates the ability to prosecute or adjudicate a person under 18 for committing an act of prostitution, which was previously considered a Class A misdemeanor. The legislation removes provisions that previously allowed courts to enter consent decrees or deferred prosecution agreements for minors involved in prostitution, even when courts previously believed such agreements might serve the best interests of the minor and not harm society. The bill makes technical amendments to several statutory sections to reflect this change, including modifications to DNA collection requirements and record expungement provisions related to prostitution offenses. By removing the possibility of criminal prosecution for minors engaged in prostitution, the bill appears to recognize that such individuals are likely victims of exploitation rather than criminals, and seeks to protect them from legal consequences that could further traumatize or stigmatize them.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (47)
Clint Anderson (D)*,
Deb Andraca (D)*,
Mike Bare (D)*,
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Jill Billings (D)*,
Ryan Clancy (D)*,
Ben DeSmidt (D)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Steve Doyle (D)*,
Jodene Emerson (D)*,
Joan Fitzgerald (D)*,
Russell Goodwin (D)*,
Rick Gundrum (R)*,
Kalan Haywood (D)*,
Francesca Hong (D)*,
Jenna Jacobson (D)*,
Alex Joers (D)*,
Tara Johnson (D)*,
Joel Kitchens (R)*,
Darrin Madison (D)*,
Maureen McCarville (D)*,
Vincent Miresse (D)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Lori Palmeri (D)*,
Ann Roe (D)*,
Christine Sinicki (D)*,
Lee Snodgrass (D)*,
Pat Snyder (R)*,
Ryan Spaude (D)*,
David Steffen (R)*,
Angela Stroud (D)*,
Shelia Stubbs (D)*,
Lisa Subeck (D)*,
Randy Udell (D)*,
Robyn Vining (D)*,
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D),
Jodi Habush Sinykin (D),
Dianne Hesselbein (D),
Jesse James (R),
LaTonya Johnson (D),
Sarah Keyeski (D),
Chris Larson (D),
Melissa Ratcliff (D),
Kelda Roys (D),
Mark Spreitzer (D),
Jamie Wall (D),
Bob Wirch (D),
Last Action
Representative Tenorio added as a coauthor (on 04/02/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab79 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB79.pdf |
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