Rep. Paul Graves instrumental in anti-sex trafficking bill package
Rep. Paul Graves, R-Fall City, was present on Friday for the signing of six new bills aimed at reducing sex crimes and protecting victims of such crimes in Washington state. The 5th District lawmaker was instrumental in helping the package of bills receive wide bipartisan support during the legislative session.
“I'm proud to have played a role in the passage of these bills,” said Graves. “Offenders of sex trafficking and assault should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Washington state will now be working harder than ever to protect children and provide support to families that have been impacted by these terrible crimes.”
Graves says the package of bills is a common sense approach to providing more support and protection for victims, keeping catch and hold offenders accountable, and preventing future crimes.
Bills within the package include:
House Bill 1079 creates procedures for no-contact orders to prohibit defendants from contacting victims when charged with, or convicted of, Trafficking and Promoting Prostitution offenses.
House Bill 1184 is a technical fix to remove jurisdictional limitations when police conduct a sting operation to catch persons attempting to pay for sex, especially with children.
House Bill 1543 creates a court process to restrict parental rights and establish child support obligations in cases where a child was conceived as the result of a sexual assault.
House Bill 1739 expands protections and services within the Crime Victims' Compensation Program (CVCP) to ensure victims of crimes receive adequate benefits and wage protections within the Department of Labor and Industries.
Senate Bill 5030 expands the definitions of commercial sexual abuse of a minor and the promotion of such acts to include the exchange of anything valuable, rather than just a fee or property. It also extends the statute of limitations for commercial sexual abuse of a minor to the victim's 30th birthday or ten years after the offense is committed.
House Bill 5256 provides a means for a victim of sexual assault to file for a permanent protection order, if the right circumstances exist.
Each bill is set to take effect later this year.
