JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The House voted unanimously Tuesday morning to pass legislation, HB 1562, designed to stop sex trafficking, sending the bill to Gov. Jay Nixon for final approval.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, expands the crime of sexual trafficking of a child to include the advertisement of a child participating in a commercial sexual act.
“What we learned as we investigated this issue is that everything from high tech apps and websites to low tech posters are used to advertise sex trafficking victims to johns around the state. By shutting down this means of advertising we can strike a serious blow against traffickers and hopefully protect hundreds if not thousands of innocent lives,” Haahr said in a statement.
The legislation came out of the Missouri Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by Haahr. Haahr has also been joined by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner in pushing for anti-sex trafficking measuers. Nationally, Wagner worked on passage of the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act.
“Congresswoman Wagner and Senator Bob Onder have been strong advocates on this issue and I want to thank them, and all of my colleagues in the House and Senate, for helping to move this important change across the legislative finish line,” said Haahr. “With the governor’s signature, we will give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to target and stop those who advertise trafficking victims.”
The legislation included several amendments added in the Senate that address various aspects of sex trafficking, including victim confidentiality and protection of the records and interviews of child sexual abuse victims.
