BILL ANALYSIS
By: Menendez
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
According to the organization Standing Against Global Exploitation, currently there are between 200,000 and 300,00 children nationwide involved in prostitution. Children who are engaged in this type of activity are hit with the heavy hand of law, while the adults who solicit them are given a slap on the wrist.
House Bill 692 seeks to reduce child exploitation by punishing abusers through enhanced penalties for adults who use child prostitutes.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
House Bill 692 provides that adults who hire prostitutes under the age of 17 years old will be charged with a felony in the third degree and will be treated as a sex offender.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.