This bill introduces a mandatory $500 fine for individuals convicted of engaging in prostitution as a patron, which is to be paid in addition to any other penalties. The funds collected from these fines will be forwarded to the Department of Justice to support the New Hampshire human trafficking collaborative task force. Additionally, the bill raises the penalty for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay another person for sexual contact or penetration from a misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor. The court is prohibited from reducing or suspending the fine, although it may allow for deferred or periodic payments if the defendant is unable to pay immediately.

Furthermore, the bill repeals the existing misdemeanor offense for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay for sexual contact or penetration, effectively replacing it with the new class A misdemeanor designation. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is currently indeterminable, as it may influence costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole within the judicial and correctional systems.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 645:2
As Amended by the Senate: 645:2