MISSOURI, USA — A week after two women were charged with sex trafficking a minor in St. Louis County, the Missouri House of Representatives passed bills that would establish multiple committees to tackle the issue.
The bills, HB 1706 and 1539, passed the House in a nearly unanimous vote on Monday. The bills were then sent to the Missouri Senate for debate.
The bills would set multiple new human trafficking measures into effect in Missouri, including:
- Establishing a Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training
- Establishing a Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
- Creates an anti-trafficking fund that will go toward education and awareness on human trafficking and anti-trafficking efforts in the state
- Require EMTs and paramedics to receive four hours of sex and human trafficking training every five years
- Requires people found guilty of certain sexual offenses to pay $10,000 in restitution per victim and $2,500 for each county in which the offenses occurred
The bills also raise the qualifying age of victims in multiple circumstances:
- Under current law, a statement made by a child under the age of 14 is admissible evidence in criminal proceedings. The bill raises that age to 17.
- Under current law, a person 21 years old or older is guilty of enticement of a child if the child is under 15 years old. The bill raises that age to 17.
“Last session when I walked out of here I reached out to contacts that I’d made when I was on the Patrol, law enforcement, and also others I’d met during the last session and I asked them one simple question: what are some of the things that you think will help stop this … what will start to make a dent? And the result is this piece of legislation that I’m presenting now.” bill sponsor, Rep. Jeff Meyers, said.
The House's passage comes a week after two women were charged with sex trafficking a 16-year-old at St. Louis County's River City Casino.
Angel Henderson of Florissant and Mack Mitchell of Memphis, Tennessee, are suspected of recruiting, harboring, and transporting a 16-year-old to participate in "sexual performances with various 'Johns' at River City Casino," according to court records.
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