Sens. Dan Laughlin and Cris Dush have announced plans to reintroduce legislation aimed at enhancing the protection and support for minors who have been victims of sexual exploitation. The proposed updates to existing “safe harbor laws” aim to address current gaps in the statute.
Sen. Laughlin emphasized the need for legal changes, stating, “We need to change how the law treats children who have been sexually exploited and implement provisions that seek to reverse the long-term impact on victims of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.” He added that minors should not face charges of prostitution but should be recognized as victims needing support services.
Sen. Dush, a prime sponsor of Act 39 of 2023, highlighted the prevalence of human trafficking both globally and locally. “Our televisions, radios, newspapers and social media platforms are saturated with reports of sex trafficking rings on private islands and worldwide,” he said. He expressed his willingness to work with Sen. Laughlin on strengthening safe harbor laws.
Paul Lukach from the Crime Victims Center in Erie supported the initiative, noting that Sens. Laughlin and Dush understand what victims require: “The safe harbor legislation will aid victims in getting needed services through Pennsylvania’s network of sexual assault response centers and the justice system.”
The new proposal aims to cover all criminal offenses related to child sexual exploitation rather than specific crimes alone, ensuring comprehensive assistance for all victims. County agencies would play a critical role in identifying and assisting these children, thereby improving coordination efforts.
Ensuring privacy is another key component of this legislative proposal, which seeks alternative interventions instead of placing sexually exploited children into the juvenile justice system.
These reforms intend to better protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals by focusing on underlying issues contributing to their exploitation.
Contact information remains available for further inquiries: David Kozak (Sen. Laughlin) at 717-787-8927 or Ty McCauslin (Sen. Dush) at 717-787-7084.
