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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 3, 2024 08:48 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Daniel Laughlin and Sen. Cris Dush |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Enhancing Safe Harbor Laws for Sexually Exploited Children |
| In the near future, we are planning to introduce legislation aimed at enhancing the Safe Harbor laws for sexually exploited children. As you may already be aware, the current legislation lacks sufficient provisions to adequately protect and support minors who have been victims of sexual exploitation. Therefore, we are proposing several updates to the existing Safe Harbor laws to address these gaps and ensure the well-being of sexually exploited children. Our proposed legislation will focus on expanding the following areas: We aim to ensure that minors cannot be charged with prostitution. Instead, these children should be recognized as victims and provided with the necessary support services to help them recover from their exploitation. The legislation will cover all criminal offenses related to the sexual exploitation of children, not just specific crimes. This broader scope will ensure that all victims receive the assistance and protection they need, regardless of the circumstances of their exploitation. We believe it is essential to include county agencies in our efforts to improve coordination and response efforts. County agencies will play a crucial role in identifying and assisting sexually exploited children, thus strengthening the overall effectiveness of the program. Confidentiality is paramount to protect sexually exploited children from further harm. Therefore, we will clarify the disclosure of their names to ensure their privacy and safety are safeguarded. Sexually exploited children should not be placed within the juvenile justice system. Instead, alternative interventions and support mechanisms should be implemented to remove children from the juvenile justice system if they have been sexually exploited and address the underlying factors contributing to their exploitation to prevent further victimization. Please join us in supporting this critical piece of legislation to update and strengthen Safe Harbor laws for sexually exploited children. By implementing these changes, we can better protect the rights and well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. |