House Bill No. 203, introduced by Representative Jackson, seeks to amend Louisiana's criminal code concerning sex offenses, particularly those involving minors and prostitution. The bill introduces new legal provisions that criminalize the solicitation or purchase of individuals under eighteen for commercial sexual activity, establishing stricter penalties for such violations. Notably, offenders who solicit minors face increased consequences, including fines up to $50,000 and imprisonment ranging from 15 to 50 years, especially for offenses involving victims under fourteen. The bill also mandates the referral of child victims of prostitution to specialized services and ensures that victims of trafficking are not prosecuted for offenses committed as a direct result of their victimization.

In addition to these new provisions, the bill repeals existing laws related to prostitution involving minors and modifies penalties associated with various sex offenses to align with the updated legal framework. It raises the maximum fine for purchasing commercial sexual activity from $750 to $1,000 and extends the maximum imprisonment term from six months to one year. The bill redefines "sex offense" to include soliciting for prostitution when the person being solicited is under eighteen, thereby enhancing protections for minors and strengthening penalties for offenders involved in human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Statutes affected:
HB5 Original: 14:83(B)(1), 15:541(24)
HB5 Engrossed: 14:2(C)(1), 14:83(B)(1), 15:541(24)
HB5 Reengrossed: 14:3(A)(1), 14:2(C)(1), 14:83(B)(1), 14:1(B)(2), 14:2(B)(2), 14:84(B)(2), 14:85(B)(2), 14:86(B)(1), 14:2(B)(3), 14:104(B)(2), 14:105(B)(2), 14:282(B)(2), 15:1(A), 15:2(A), 15:541(24), 46:1844(W)(2), 15:541(25), 15:1352(A)(47)