Proposed Bill No. 521 aims to enhance protections for children and youth against sex trafficking in Connecticut. The bill introduces several key amendments to existing laws, including the expansion of criminal statutes to cover conduct against minors and the actions of buyers involved in sex trafficking. It mandates the development of policy guidance for responding to foreign national child sex trafficking victims and requires child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to implement trauma-informed screenings for at-risk children. Additionally, the bill allows victims of commercial sexual exploitation to obtain orders of protection against their exploiters and enables all such victims to testify by alternative methods, regardless of age.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that victims of commercial sexual exploitation will be assigned a dedicated caseworker specializing in child sex trafficking, with their communications protected as privileged. It also calls for state-wide training for child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to improve identification and response to child sex trafficking cases. Overall, the proposed legislation seeks to create a more comprehensive framework for addressing and preventing child sex trafficking in Connecticut.