STATE EFFORTS TO PASS LEGAL REFORM
Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington have all passed some form of Safe Harbor Legislation, with Texas benefiting from a state supreme court ruling to similar effect, and New Jersey very close to passing their own bill. Scroll down this page to find specific details on your state law.
Connecticut
Bill: Senate Bill 153: AN ACT PROVIDING A SAFE HARBOR FOR EXPLOITED CHILDREN
Governor: Signed June 7, 2010
State House: Passed May 6, 2010
State Senate: Passed April 27, 2010
Florida
Bill: HB 99: An act relating to sexual exploitation, and SB 202: Florida Safe Harbor Act.
Resources: ECPAT-USA’s Summary, HB 99, Bill Highlights.
Effective: January 2013.
Governor: Signed April 13, 2012
State House: Passed February 23, 2012
State Senate: Passed March 8, 2012.
Illinois
Bill: HB 6462: Illinois Safe Children Act;
Governor: Signed August 20, 2010
State House: Passed May 26, 2010
State Senate: Passed May 26, 2010
Massachusetts
Bill: H.3808: An Act relative to the commercial exploitation of people
Resources: Bill Summary.
Effective: February 19, 2012.
Governor: Signed November 21, 2011.
State House: Enacted November 15, 2011
State Senate: Enacted November 15, 2011
Minnesota
Bill: SF 1: Budget Bill
Resources: Highlights of Minnesota Bill.
Signed: July 2011.
Governor: Signed July 20, 2010
State House: Passed July 19, 2010
State Senate: Passed July 19 2010
New Jersey
Active Organizations: The HEAAT Foundation, Polaris Project, Junior Leagues of NJ State Public Affairs Committee, NJCASA
New York
Bill: A5258C: SAFE HARBOUR FOR EXPLOITED CHILDREN ACT;
Resources: Press Release;
Governor: Signed September 25, 2008
State Assembly: Passed June 19, 2008
State Senate: Passed June 23, 2008
Texas
In 2010 the Texas Supreme Court issued a decision on the case of a 13 year old commercially sexually exploited child who was prosecuted for prostitution. The court found that a child under the age of 14 cannot be prosecuted for prostitution due to conflict with consent laws.
Decision: Supreme Court Opinion
Resources: ECPAT-USA’s Summary;
Vermont
Bill: H. 153: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Resources: Highlights of H153, ECPAT-USA’s Press Release
Governor: Signed May 31, 2011
State House: Passed February 18, 2011
State Senate: Passed May 2, 2011
Washington State
Bill: SB 6476: Revising provisions relating to sex crimes involving minors
Effective: April 10, 2010
Governor: Signed April 1, 2010
State House: Passed March 3, 2010
State Senate: Passed March 9, 2010