House Bill No. 163, introduced by Representative Dickerson, seeks to amend Louisiana's laws concerning victims of sex-related crimes by eliminating the previous requirement for distributing half of the fines collected from offenders according to the now-repealed R.S. 15:539.4. The bill establishes a mandatory monetary assessment of $2,000 for individuals convicted of offenses such as child trafficking, domestic abuse battery, and various forms of sexual assault. Additionally, it renames the "Exploited Children's Special Fund" to the "Survivor Special Fund" and outlines the allocation of these funds to support services for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

The legislation specifies that the Survivor Special Fund will be utilized for providing essential services and treatment to victims, including residential housing and health services. It mandates allocations to child advocacy centers, domestic violence coalitions, and accredited sexual assault crisis centers, while allowing the governor's office of human trafficking prevention to retain a small percentage for administrative expenses. By repealing previous provisions related to the distribution of fines for solicitation of prostitution and related offenses, the bill aims to streamline funding processes and enhance the effectiveness of support services for victims.

Statutes affected:
HB163 Original: 14:2(C), 14:83(B)(1), 15:1(F)(3)