Laughlin, Dush Introduce Safe Harbor Legislation for Sexually Exploited Children

HARRISBURG - Sens. Dan Laughlin (R-49) and Cris Dush (R-25) today introduced legislation to update existing "safe harbor laws" to address the gaps in the current statute regarding the protection and support of minors who have been victims of sexual exploitation.

"We need to change how the law treats children who have been sexually exploited and implement provisions that seek to reverse the long-term impact on victims of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking," said Laughlin. "Minors should not be charged with prostitution; these children should be recognized as victims and provided with the necessary support services to help them recover from their exploitation."

The Senate Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing this past January about human trafficking, learning not only that prosecution of offenders needs to be uniform across localities and states, but, just as important, that more needs to be done to protect the victims of human trafficking. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1299, was developed based on the information received during that hearing.

"By no means limited to faraway foreign nations or remote private islands, sex trafficking rings are actively operating within our local communities, many times as close as next door," said Dush, the prime sponsor of Act 39 of 2023, which was signed into law to ensure sexually exploited child trafficking victims always have full access to appropriate services and support. "Being aware of the statistics and horrors of human trafficking is useless without taking serious legislative action. I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with Sen. Laughlin in fortifying our current safe harbor laws as another line of defense to protect human trafficking victims across the commonwealth."

SB 1299 covers all criminal offenses related to the sexual exploitation of children, not just specific crimes. Using a broader scope will ensure all victims receive the assistance and protection they need, regardless of the circumstances of their exploitation.

County agencies will have an essential role in improving coordination and response efforts, helping identify and assist sexually exploited children, and strengthening the overall effectiveness of the program.

The legislation also seeks to ensure the privacy and safety of children since confidentiality is paramount to protecting sexually exploited children from further harm.

Additionally, SB 1299 would create alternative interventions and support mechanisms for sexually exploited children; such victims should not be put into the juvenile justice system. The focus should be on addressing the underlying factors contributing to their exploitation to prevent further victimization.

These changes will create a system that better protects the rights and well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

Contact: David Kozak (Sen. Laughlin) 717-787-8927
Ty McCauslin (Sen. Dush) 717-787-7084