Bill > HB507

This bill amends Ohio law to create a new criminal offense of receiving proceeds from prostitution. Specifically, the bill prohibits any person from receiving or acquiring money or anything of value knowing that it was earned from sexual activity for hire or from human trafficking. The offense is classified as a third-degree felony, but becomes a second-degree felony if the prostitute is under 18 years old. The bill defines "sexual activity for hire" by referencing existing state law and explicitly states that a prostitute cannot be prosecuted for receiving money from their own sexual activities. The legislation also clarifies that prosecution for this offense does not prevent prosecution under other related criminal statutes, and if a person is convicted of this offense and another related sexual offense involving the same victim, those offenses are considered "allied offenses of similar import." The bill updates existing definitions in the Ohio Revised Code related to sexual conduct and corrupt activity to incorporate this new provision, and it adds the new offense to the list of activities that can be considered part of a "pattern of corrupt activity."

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https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb507