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Pennsylvania State Senate
10/04/2024 08:02 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=26913
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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 7, 2018 03:49 PM
From: Senator Kim L. Ward
To: All Senate members
Subject: Adding Sex Traffickers to Megan's Law Registry (Revised)
 
I am introducing legislation to subject offenders convicted of any sex trafficking-related offenses to Megan’s Law Registry.

Pennsylvania had the 7th highest rate of human trafficking reports in 2017. According to a U.S. Department of Justice report from the same year, most defendants in the FBI’s human trafficking cases had prior criminal records, and they were prone to recidivism. The Megan’s Law Registry has proven to be a deterrent to subsequent sexual offenses committed by those who are on it.

However, the Commonwealth only currently requires offenders convicted of trafficking minors to be registered under Megan’s Law. It is classified as a Tier II Sexual Offense and requires a 25 year registration.

My legislation will amend Title 42 to classify the following convictions relating to human trafficking as tiered sexual offenses subject to registration:
  • 18 Pa.C.S. §3011(a) Trafficking in individuals - Tier I Sexual Offense, 15 years registration
  • 18 Pa.C.S. §3012 Sexual servitude - Tier II Offense, 25 year registration
  • 18 Pa.C.S. §3013 Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude – Tier 1 Sexual Offense, 15 years registration
Tier classifications are based upon the grading of the offenses. Those trafficking offenses that are second-degree felonies will be considered Tier I Sexual Offenses and first-degree felonies will be classified as Tier II Sexual Offenses.

I hope you join me in trying to address the growing problem of sex trafficking within our state and communities by co-sponsoring this legislation.



Introduced as SB136