HARTFORD – State Representative Stephen Harding (R-107) is optimistic after joining fellow legislators and victim advocates to see the governor sign an anti-human trafficking bill, Public Act 16-71, into law recently at the Capitol.
This legislation includes many provisions that aim to both increase
protections for victims of human trafficking and impose stronger
penalties on the perpetrators. It also:
- Requires operators of hotels and similar lodgings to maintain a record of all guest transactions for at least six months to help police investigations and to train their employees to recognize the signs of human trafficking
- Prohibits an individual aged 16 or 17 from being convicted of prostitution to protect underage victims of human trafficking
- Expands the acts classified as a class C felony under the crime of patronizing a prostitute and increases the penalty for other prostitution-related crimes
- Requires state’s attorneys and local police chiefs to report annually to the legislature’s Children’s and Judiciary committees on any human trafficking cases in their jurisdictions
“We have come a long way in our efforts towards supporting human rights,” said Rep. Harding,
who co-sponsored the bill. “Our youth deserve the utmost protection against these heinous acts, and I believe that this new law will do a great deal in shutting down such trades that come within our region.”
