HB 198 Summary

• Creates new crime of "promoting travel for unlawful sexual conduct" to prohibit selling travel services for sex tourism or sexual exploitation of minors, classified as Class G felony effective December 1, 2019.

• Allows human trafficking victims to bring civil lawsuits against traffickers and those who financially benefit from trafficking, with potential recovery of compensatory damages, medical/counseling costs, general damages, and attorney's fees, effective July 1, 2019.

• Expands expunction eligibility for trafficking victims convicted of prostitution or nonviolent offenses if they were coerced or deceived into committing the crime due to trafficking victimization, effective December 1, 2019.

• Permits trafficking victims to file motions to vacate nonviolent offense convictions at any time without the prior 10-day limitation, and allows courts to consider various evidence of trafficking victimization including law enforcement statements and victim services organization affidavits.

• Modifies statute of limitations for trafficking victim civil actions to 10 years from when cause of action arose or 10 years after victim reaches age 18 if minor at time of offense.