S.B. No. 955 amends the Penal Code regarding the punishment for the offense of trafficking persons. The bill specifies that an offense is generally classified as a second-degree felony, but escalates to a first-degree felony under certain conditions. These conditions include instances where the trafficking results in serious bodily injury or death, the use of a deadly weapon, or if the trafficker recruited or obtained the victim from specific vulnerable locations, such as shelters for runaway youth or correctional facilities. Notably, the bill adds new language to include the recruitment of victims from these facilities as a factor that elevates the offense to a first-degree felony.

Additionally, the bill modifies the circumstances under which an offense is punishable by life imprisonment or a lengthy prison term. It specifies that if the offense occurs within 1,000 feet of certain locations, such as schools, juvenile detention facilities, or correctional facilities, it will be treated as a first-degree felony. The changes in law will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.