The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 155 on human trafficking authored by Sen. Crider.This billmodifies the definition of “protected person” for purposes of the admission of a statement or videotape of an individual who is less than 14 years of age at the time of the offense but less than 18 years of age at the time of trial. The bill removes the requirement that money paid for a human trafficking victim or for an act performed by a human trafficking victim be paid to a third party. The bill increases the penalty for human trafficking to a Level 4 felony. The bill specifies that consent by the human trafficking victim is not a defense to a prosecution. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to report human trafficking investigations to the Attorney General within 30 days after an investigation begins.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition. The bill passed 8-1.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/senate/155