Bill > H1017

This bill aims to strengthen protections against human trafficking and exploitation, particularly of minors, by prohibiting the employment of individuals under 18 in adult theaters and requiring these establishments to verify the age and identity of all employees and independent contractors, maintaining records for at least three years. It also eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain human trafficking offenses, revises penalties for various human trafficking and prostitution offenses, and repeals specific prostitution offenses involving minors. Furthermore, the bill allows for the expunction (removal) of criminal history records for victims of human trafficking who were charged with offenses committed as part of their victimization, provided these charges did not result in a conviction, and mandates the destruction of related investigative records. The bill also clarifies legislative intent regarding the prosecution of adults who involve minors in prohibited behaviors, emphasizing that such adults should be prosecuted under more severe laws like human trafficking statutes rather than prostitution laws, as minors cannot legally consent. Finally, it revises penalties for certain prostitution offenses, increasing the severity for repeat offenders and making it a felony to derive support from prostitution earnings.