ATLANTA – The Georgia Senate today unanimously passed House Bill 200 by a vote of 50 to 0, showing broad bipartisan support for the measure. Introduced by State Representative Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta), HB 200 targets criminals engaged in the trafficking of persons for sexual servitude.
“I’m proud of the Senate for their unanimous support of HB 200,” said Rep. Lindsey. “This is a loud and clear message to those engaging in human trafficking: not in our state!”
HB 200 clarifies the definition of various terms pertaining to sexual servitude, increases penalties for individuals who are found guilty of human trafficking, provides law enforcement with additional tools necessary to combat the practice of human trafficking, and expands Georgia’s forfeiture law so that it applies to those convicted of human trafficking.
Specifically, the bill refines the definition of coercion, sexual servitude and deception as used in Georgia law. It also adds new terms to Georgia’s code section dealing with human trafficking, including definitions for “performance” and “sexually explicit conduct” as currently used in state law pertaining to the Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Additionally, the legislation increases the penalties for prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, and pimping or pandering. These penalties are further increased if the offense involves a person under the age of 16. Criminals involved in these heinous crimes could also see their property and assets seized because HB 200 allows forfeiture of any real estate or personal property that the courts find to be used, or intended to be used, for human trafficking or sexual servitude purposes.
Finally, the bill assists law enforcement by giving the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) authority to investigate crimes involving the trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude. It also requires the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, as well as the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, to establish guidelines and procedures to provide law enforcement with training materials and information concerning human trafficking and forced servitude. This will include: methods for identifying, combating, and reporting incidents where a person has been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude; methods for providing proper holding facilities for persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on therapeutic facilities; and methods for assisting persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on social service organizations.
This bill treats those that have been subjected to sexual servitude with compassion by providing victims a pathway out of their criminally forced servitude. Any person who suffers a serious mental or emotional trauma as a result of being trafficked for labor or sexual servitude will be eligible for victim compensation so long as they fully cooperate with law enforcement against their human trafficker.
HB 200 is the result of a collaborative effort between Rep. Lindsey, Attorney General Sam Olens, the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and social service advocates.
For more information on HB 200, please click here.
Representative Edward Lindsey was elected by the Republican Caucus as their Majority Whip, the fourth highest ranking position in House leadership, on December 17, 2009. He represents the citizens of House District 54, which includes portions of Atlanta and Sandy Springs. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and currently serves on the Rules, Appropriations, Education, Ethics, Industrial Relations, and Judiciary committees.
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