Bill Text - HB180 (2021)

Increasing the penalty for buyers under the law regarding trafficking in persons.


Revision: March 2, 2021, 10:33 a.m.

Rep. Abbas, Rock. 8

February 17, 2021

2021-0397h

04/08

 

 

Amendment to HB 180

 

Amend the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:

 

1  Interference With Freedom; Trafficking in Persons.  Amend RSA 633:7, III-a to read as follows:

III-a.(a) A person is guilty of a [class B] class A felony if the person pays, agrees to pay, or offers to pay to engage in sexual contact, as defined in RSA 632-A:1 or sexual penetration, as defined in RSA 632-A:1, V with a person under the age of 18, or to observe a sexually explicit performance involving a person under the age of 18.  The payment or offer or agreement to pay may be made to the person under the age of 18 or a third party.  Neither the actor's lack of knowledge of the other person's age nor consent of the other person shall constitute a defense to a charge under this paragraph.

(b)  A person is guilty of a class B felony if the person pays, agrees to pay, or offers to pay to engage in sexual contact, as defined in RSA 632-A:1 or sexual penetration, as defined in RSA 632-A:1, V with a person who is 13 years of age or older and under 16 years of age and the actor is 20 years of age or under, where the age difference between the actor and the other person is not more than 3 years.  The payment or offer or agreement to pay may be made to the person under the age of 16 or a third party.  Neither the actor's lack of knowledge of the other person's age nor consent of the other person shall constitute a defense to a charge under this paragraph.

2021-0397h

AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill changes the penalty for a person who pays to engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 18 who is a victim of human trafficking and inserts a lesser offense based on the age difference between the victim and the offender.