This bill introduces a mandatory $500 fine for individuals convicted of engaging in prostitution as patrons, 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 amends existing law by repealing the previous misdemeanor classification for paying for sexual contact or penetration, thus streamlining the penalties associated with prostitution-related offenses. It also modifies the introductory paragraph of RSA 645:2, II to include violations of the new paragraph I-a, which addresses the class A misdemeanor for payment for sexual contact. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and its fiscal impact on state and local governments is currently indeterminable, as it may influence costs related to the judicial and correctional systems.

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