HB 317 - Sex Trafficking and Human Trafficking Reform

• Establishes three new sex trafficking crimes (first, second, and third degree) under AS 11.41.340-11.41.347, with first degree classified as an unclassified felony and second degree as a class A felony.

• Creates new crime of "patron of a victim of sex trafficking" under AS 11.41.350, making it a class C felony when soliciting commercial sexual conduct with reckless disregard that person is trafficking victim, or class B felony if victim is under 18 years old.

• Revises human trafficking crimes to increase severity, changing first degree from class A to unclassified felony and second degree from class B to class A felony.

• Establishes vacatur process allowing individuals convicted of prostitution under AS 11.66.100(a)(1) to petition court to void conviction if they were or would have been sex trafficking victims, with rebuttable presumption for those under 18 at time of offense.

• Repeals former AS 11.66.110-11.66.150 (old sex trafficking statute) and updates sentencing guidelines, crime definitions, and statutory references throughout Alaska Criminal Code; effective July 1, 2022.