HCS/HB 2688 - This act modifies provisions relating to human trafficking. END ORGAN HARVESTING ACT OF 2024 (Section 376.1593)
This act establishes the "End Organ Harvesting Act of 2024" which provides that a health carrier or health benefit plan shall not cover a human organ transplant if the operation was performed or the organ was procured in the People's Republic of China.
This act is identical to HB 2624 (2024).
SEXUAL OFFENSES (Sections 556.039, 566.200, 566.202, 566. 207, 566.217, 566.218, 566.223, 573.024, & 589.414)
This act provides that prosecution for human trafficking offenses shall be commenced no later than 20 years after the commission of the offense.
Additionally, this act adds the definitions of "labor or services" and "serious harm" to provisions relating to human trafficking offenses.
This act provides that a defendant may be imprisoned for up to 5 years in addition to the period of imprisonment if he or she is found to have recruited or enticed a victim of human trafficking from a shelter that serves the homeless or foster children.
This act also creates the offense of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude if a person knowingly gives anything of value so an individual ma engage in a commercial sex act with another and the person knows the other individual is a victim of sexual servitude.
If the victim is over 18 years old the felony the person shall be punished for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years. If the victim is less than 18 years old than the person shall be punished for a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole. Finally, the person shall pay restitution to the victim and a civil action may be brought against the person.
A business may be prosecuted for a human trafficking offense if the business owner knowingly engages in conduct that constitutes human trafficking or an employee engages in conduct that constitutes human trafficking and the business owner knew a crime was occurring. Additionally, if a business is found to be the location of enabling the sexual exploitation of a minor then the business shall close for up to one year for the first offense and shall permanently close for a second offense.
Finally, this act adds the offenses of sexual exploitation of a minor and patronizing a victim of sexual servitude to offenses on the sexual offender registry.
EXPUNGEMENT (Section 610.131)
Under current law, a person who was under the age of 18 who was coerced into prostitution may petition to have his or her record expunged for the offense of prostitution.
This act repeals the "under the age of 18" provision.
MARY GRACE PRINGLE