This week Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) joined his fellow colleagues Representatives Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen), and Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park) to introduce a package of legislation to combat human trafficking and support victims.
In addition to HB 5465, which builds on Public Act 103-35 that Rep. Keicher carried through the General Assembly last year and is now law, the legislation proposed today includes:
- House Bill 5466, introduced by Rep. La Ha, removes the defense of mistaken age for the offense of patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution.
- House Bill 5467, also from Rep. La Ha, removes the statute of limitations for prosecutions of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons and related offenses when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense.
- House Bill 5134 from Rep. La Ha requires those convicted of trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor to register as a sex offender.
- House Bill 5468, introduced by Rep. Sanalitro, creates a defense for victims of human trafficking who commit a crime because of being trafficked. The law requires the persons who are harmed to prove they are victims of human trafficking.
- House Bill 5469, also from Rep. Sanalito, creates the Human Trafficking Order of Protection Act. This Act allows victims of human trafficking to obtain orders of protection against their traffickers.
- House Bill 5470, introduced by Rep. Stephens, adds additional language – “patronize” – to involuntary sexual servitude of a minor to ensure buyers are held accountable as sex trafficking offenders.