SB 165 Summary

• Establishes three degrees of sex trafficking crimes (AS 11.41.340 - 11.41.347) as felonies with sex trafficking in the first degree being unclassified, and creates new crime of "patron of a victim of sex trafficking" (AS 11.41.350) as class B or C felony depending on victim age.

• Restructures human trafficking laws to clarify degrees, expand methods of coercion including deception, and establish human trafficking in the third degree (AS 11.41.366) as class B or C felony based on value of services provided.

• Creates new procedure allowing persons convicted of prostitution to petition courts to vacate convictions if they were victims of sex trafficking at the time of offense (AS 12.74).

• Removes corroboration requirement for trafficking victim testimony and allows property forfeiture for trafficking violations; adds trafficking victims as victims eligible for crime victims' compensation.

• Effective July 1, 2020; repeals previous sex trafficking statutes (AS 11.66.110 - 11.66.150) and updates sentencing guidelines, registration requirements, and licensing restrictions accordingly.