Andrew Hevesi voted Yea (Passage) on this Legislation.
Title: Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking
Vote to pass a bill that amends the penal law for the defense of prostitution crimes committed by victims of human trafficking.
Amends the Penal Law to expand the affirmative defense to various prostitution crimes, where the defendant's conduct was a result of being a victim of sex trafficking, human trafficking, or impelled prostitution (Sec. 1).
Requires an individual who was subjected to forced trafficking to be automatically considered a victim for engaging in prostitution or performing other illegal sex work (Sec. 1).
Specifies that prosecutors only have to prove that a trafficker oversaw or profited from the sex work performed by a victim of trafficking instead of having to prove that the victim was coerced (Sec. 1).
Requires the the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to provide victims of trafficking optional placement in short-term and long-term safe houses (Sec. 3).
Authorizes the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to enter into contracts with non-government organizations for providing services to victims of human trafficking (Sec. 3).
Requires law enforcement, upon encountering an individual who reasonably appears to be or self-identifies as a victim of human trafficking, to inform them of the services available (Sec. 4).
Title: Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking