SB 18-055

Senate Bill 18-055 increases fines for people convicted of trafficking minors for sexual purposes. The new law adds a $3,000 surcharge on top of any existing penalties for this crime, which is higher than the standard fine for other crimes against children. It also delays when courts can declare an offender unable to pay these fines until six months after conviction, giving them time to settle their finances. This bill has been signed into law and is now in effect.

Official Summary

Current law requires each person who is convicted of a crime against a child to pay a surcharge to the clerk of the court for the judicial district in which the conviction occurs. The bill adds the crime of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude to the definition of crime against a child for purposes of the surcharge. For a class 2 felony, the amount of the fine is $1,500. The bill states that if the class 2 felony is for human trafficking of a minor for involuntary servitude or for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, then the amount of the fine is $3,000. Additionally, in cases where an offender is required to pay the new surcharge, the court is encouraged to delay any finding of indigence until 6 months after the offender's conviction, at which time the court may require the defendant or defendant's counsel to submit documents that substantiate the defendant's indigence. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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