The bill aims to decriminalize certain commercial sexual activities in Rhode Island by establishing a new legal framework that aligns with recommendations from a Special Legislative Study Commission on Racial Equity and Health and Safety Laws. The Commission's findings indicated that current laws have detrimental health and safety effects on marginalized groups, particularly women, transgender individuals, and people of color. To implement these recommendations, the bill repeals several sections of the General Laws related to "Commercial Sexual Activity," effectively decriminalizing prostitution and introducing new legal definitions and provisions, including those for prostitution, procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, and loitering for prostitution.

Additionally, the bill includes amendments to existing laws concerning child abuse and neglect, introducing new definitions related to human trafficking and clarifying that subjecting a child to such offenses constitutes abuse or neglect. It removes previous language that defined sexual exploitation solely in terms of prostitution, instead focusing on the broader implications of human trafficking. The bill categorizes human trafficking as a racketeering activity and provides a pathway for individuals to seek expungement of specific convictions related to commercial sexual activity after one year. Overall, the legislation aims to modernize and clarify laws surrounding these sensitive issues while providing protections for vulnerable populations, with the act taking effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2399: 11-34.1-5, 7-14-2, 7-15-1, 9-17-13, 10-1-5, 40-11-2