Senate Passes Bill to Toughen Sex Trafficking Penalties

From Patch Reports

The Ga. Senate on a vote of 54-0 Tuesday approved House Majority Whip Ed Lindsey's bill that would strengthen penalties for sex trafficking,  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The Buckhead representive's comprehensive legislation has already passed the House and now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal to sign into law.

House Bill 200 would raise the prison sentence for trafficking from a year to between 10 and 20 years and impose a fine of up to $100,000 the AJC reported. If a person younger than 18 is coerced by a trafficker, the sentence would jump to 25 to 50 years. 

The bill  also would provide for police training guidelines for dealing with sex trafficking and subpoena powers, the AJC reported.

A coalition of political, social and religious groups, such as Street Grace, worked for two years pushing such legislation, the newspaper said.

Here's the link to The AJC story.