Bill > SB45

This bill amends various Pennsylvania laws to strengthen protections against human trafficking and related offenses, establishing new definitions for terms like "prostituted person" and "prostitution" to clarify that prostitution involves exchanging sexual activity for money or value. It creates new offenses for promoting prostitution, including managing a house of prostitution, procuring individuals for prostitution, and knowingly benefiting from prostitution proceeds, with penalties escalating based on the severity and recurrence of the offense, and particularly severe penalties for offenses involving minors. The bill also defines the offense of patronizing prostitution, which is hiring someone for sexual activity, and imposes significant fines, with a portion of these fines directed to a new "Prevention of Human Trafficking Restricted Account" to fund anti-trafficking programs and victim services. Additionally, the bill updates existing laws to reflect these new definitions and offenses, ensuring that promoting prostitution is recognized as a serious crime, particularly when it involves minors or is part of a pattern of exploitation.