Good news!!  Last week, S.B. 153 passed out of Connecticut’s Select Committee on Children and onto the Judiciary Committee.  Thanks to support from concerned supporters like you, this bill continues to have a chance to become law.  Senator Robert Kane of Connecticut has been a dedicated sponsor of the legislation and passionate supporter of these protections for children.  We’re so thankful for all of his hard work to get this bill the attention it deserves. 

As awareness of the bill grows, the number of bill co-sponsors increases by the week. In Connecticut, human trafficking is a felony, profiting from or promoting the prostitution of a child is a felony, a child under 16 cannot consent to sex, and it is sexual assault to have sex with a child under 16.  Yet, Connecticut law does not clearly define exploited children as victims.  Instead, it leaves them vulnerable to prosecution.  In practice, law enforcement does tend to treat these children as victims.  This practice must be ensured by law.  The law must view exploited children as victims, not criminals deserving punishment.

There is still more to do.  Your support is greatly needed.

ACTION STEPS:
1.  Familiarize yourself with what Safe Harbor will do for Connecticut
 

What S.B. 153 does: prevents the prosecution of young children for the crime of prostitution; makes it more difficult to criminalize older children for their own sexual exploitation; and strengthens the penalty for those who promote commercial child sexual exploitation.
 

What S.B. 153 does not do: decriminalize the prostitution of children. Human trafficking and prostitution are criminal acts for which pimps/traffickers and “johns” must be prosecuted and jailed.  Children, however, do not deserve such treatment.
Find out who represents you by going to this page.  If you have a state assembly legislator(s) on the committee, be sure to contact him/her/them.

2.  Call or email your representative or senator. If you do not have representation on the committee, your petition letter will go to the committee leadership, Senator McDonald and Representative Lawlor.  We urge you to contact them even if you do have a legislator on the committee.  The more members we contact, the better. Express your support for the bill and urge them to “raise” “Safe Harbor for Exploited Children” and vote it out of the Judiciary Committee to the Senate for a full vote.  Feel free to share how you feel this exploitation impacts your community.  You need not have experience as a lobbyist; legislators want to hear from their constituents. New to this? No problem!  Use the sample call and email scripts.
 
Taking these steps to engage with your government representatives help to pave the way for a trafficking-free Connecticut.  Together, we will help child victims of commercial sexual  be given a chance for a better life free from abuse.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kathy Maskell
Love146 U.S. Advocacy Director

 
Below are examples of how you might call or email the committee members.  If you feel comfortable, use these scripts for guidance but express your support in your own words.

Making the Call:

 “Hi, my name is [   ], and I am a constituent of [   ].  I am calling to urge Representative/Senator [name] to support “Safe Harbor for Exploited Children.”  S.B. 153 recently passed from the Select Committee on Children and now awaits action in the Judiciary.  This legislation is very important as it protects children exploited through prostitution from being prosecuted for their abuse.  It also strengthens the penalties for those who promote the commercial sexual exploitation of our children.  These children are manipulated and groomed by adults who wish to exploit their vulnerabilities.  This happens in our state and the victims deserve complete protection under the law.  Will the senator/representative support this important bill and move it out of the Judiciary so it can receive a full vote?”