PA Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus Celebrates Passage of Bill to Increase Enforcement/Penalties for Sex Trafficking/Prostitution

HARRISBURG - Legislation sponsored by Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) Caucus Chairman Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) aimed at helping the Pennsylvania attorney general and law enforcement more effectively target and prosecute human trafficking was passed 49-1 by the Senate today.

"There are far too many people who would still have us believe that the 'oldest profession' is a 'noble profession.' Prostitution is neither noble, nor is it a profession," Dush said. "No child ever aspires to be a prostitute! Senate Bill 45 specifically increases criminal penalties for those who prey upon vulnerable people who have been groomed, manipulated and forced into 'The Life.'"

Requested and fully supported by the Office of Attorney General, Senate Bill 45 relocates most prostitution offenses to the human trafficking section of the state Crimes Code, enhances the penalties for several of those offenses and places these offenses under the jurisdiction of the Office of Attorney General - giving it the ability to better combat prostitution and human trafficking across the commonwealth.

"Again, this legislation is absolutely not designed to prosecute the vulnerable," said Dush. "The Johns, the pimps, the abusers of those young boys and girls are the targets. Those that traffic children, those who rent the bodies of these young people trying to survive 'The Life', those PREDATORS are the targets!"

The mission of the first-ever, bipartisan, bicameral PA AHT Caucus is to facilitate the passage of AHT legislation; educate fellow elected officials, partnering organizations and the public on AHT issues; and advocate on behalf of AHT organizations.

Further making his case for the necessity of the PA AHT Caucus and immediate passage of Senate Bill 45, Dush cited the arrival of warmer weather and the countless Pennsylvanians who will be attending upcoming local, national and worldwide events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, agricultural fairs and America250 celebrations.

"Tragically, these heavily crowded environments are all proven human trafficking hot spots, labor trafficking and especially, sex trafficking," said Dush. "All of which makes pushing this high-priority, bipartisan, bicameral anti-human trafficking legislation across the finish line even more necessary to maintaining law and order and helping prevent further destruction of innocent lives."

Chairman Dush closed out his Senate floor remarks by expressing gratitude and congratulations to all his PA AHT Caucus co-chairs which include: Sen. Maria Collett (D-12), Sen. Marty Flynn (D-22), Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-197), Rep. Kate Klunk (R-169), Rep. Clint Owlett (R-68) and Rep. Regina Young (D-185).

"Let's give the attorney general and prosecutors the tools they need, let's give our judges the ability to make punishment for predatory abusers fit the horror they inflict on the vulnerable," said Dush. "To borrow a direct quote from Sen. Collett: 'We are not backing down.'"

Senate Bill 45, the first piece of legislation to be unanimously endorsed by the PA AHT Caucus, now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration.

If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

, 717-787-7084