HI HB497

Establishes sex trafficking in the first degree as a class A felony for knowingly advancing, profiting from, or recruiting/transporting minors under 18 for sexual conduct or sexually explicit activity through force, fraud, or coercion.

Establishes sex trafficking in the second degree as a class B felony for the same conduct involving persons 18 years or older.

Provides an affirmative defense in prostitution prosecutions when the defendant engaged in sexual conduct through force, fraud, or coercion, protecting trafficking victims from criminal liability.

Adds sex trafficking to offenses receiving greatest priority for witness protection funding and programs under the Attorney General's statewide witness program.

Replaces "prostitution" with "sex trafficking" in definitions of child abuse and dependent elder abuse to properly classify trafficking as a distinct criminal offense.