JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A House bill combating sex trafficking expanded to include a variety of other provisions in an effort to protect minors — particularly exploited youths — in the state and passed the Senate Monday evening.
Under Sen. Jeanie Riddle’s guidance, Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s HB 397 has expanded into what one senator referred to as an “omnibus-esque bill” with more than two dozen additional provisions safeguarding minors. Some of the additions are:
- A provision called “Simon’s Law” requiring the written or oral consent from parents or guardians — as well as witnesses — of a minor before medical professionals can institute a do-not-resuscitate order
- The ability for a prosecuting or circuit attorney to convene a review panel to investigate the deaths of children under the age of 18
- Modifications to those who operate child-care facilities to protect the safety of children, including a measure increasing criminal penalties for people who violate current statutes
- Eligibility for people between the ages of 18-26 who were in foster care for at least six months in another state to receive MO HealthNet benefits “to help them get started on a good life”
- A provision maintaining relatives should take priority — unless otherwise determined not to be in the best interest of the child — when it comes to foster care placement of the child, with grandparents given first consideration
- The creation of an “Amber Alert System Oversight Committee” within the Department of Public Safety to develop criteria and procedures for the Amber alert system that will meet at least once a year
- Modifications to child support enforcement
- A provision declaring anyone who knowingly manages, operates, or owns an interactive computer service that promotes or facilitates the prostitution of another person will have committed the offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree
The last addition was an amendment offered by Sen. Bob Onder. The Republican has repeatedly pushed for this distinction in Missouri law, noting most sex trafficking prosecutions occur at the state level.
“The attached [bills] were all ones committee members thought were good things to help kids in the state,” Riddle said Tuesday afternoon before the bill was referred to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee.
She added the bills attached were “not controversial” and were added to “move things along quickly.”
“You hate to have the things that are great for the kids in the state get lost in the process in the last couple of weeks,” Riddle said.
“I’m excited to see it’s moved another step closer to being law, and I’m excited about more legislation that’s been added to it that will help other children,” Coleman told The Missouri Times of her legislation.
In the Senate, the bill’s language was tweaked to say an affirmative defense for prostitution could be applicable to anyone who is under the age of 18 and was under coercion — as opposed to being a minor or under coercion.
The bill also expands the definition of gang activity to include commercial sex trafficking. Additionally, those previously convicted of prostitution while a minor could have the opportunity to have his or her record expunged.
Sen. Jamilah Nasheed attempted to attach an amendment to the bill expanding the definition of involuntary manslaughter to include someone who knowingly incited another person to die by suicide. The amendment, she said, was to curtail prevalent bullying in the state.
Multiple senators objected to the amendment, contending it was one needing more discussion by the body. Nasheed ultimately withdrew it.
The Senate ultimately passed the bill in a unanimous vote. The House passed HB 397 in late January with bipartisan support.
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.
