HARRISBURG, PA. - People gathered at the state capitol to show their support for Senate Bill 851. That bill would make child sex trafficking victims immune to charges for prostitution and other offenses that happened while they were victimized.
The bill also encourages welfare agencies to provide special services to victims and provides appropriate training to law enforcement officers who deal with sex trafficking victims. Advocates from various coalitions and task forces gathered to offer reasons why the bill should be passed.
"No 15 or 16-year-old should be charged with a crime because they are threatened or beaten and forced to go out on the street by a trafficker," said Senator Daylin Leach, (D) Montgomery and Delaware Counties.
The legislation would also create a fund to help increase awareness about human trafficking in the state.