Assembly Bill 79 seeks to amend existing statutes regarding the prosecution of individuals under the age of 18 for acts of prostitution. Currently, minors can be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for such acts, classified as a Class A misdemeanor. The proposed legislation would prohibit the prosecution of minors for prostitution altogether, eliminating the possibility of entering consent decrees or deferred prosecution agreements in these cases, even if deemed in the best interest of the minor and society.

The bill includes several specific amendments to existing legal language. Notably, it deletes references to prosecuting minors under section 944.30 (1m) and introduces new language stating that individuals under 18 cannot be prosecuted under this section. Additionally, it modifies the requirements for biological specimen collection and expungement processes related to adjudications for violations of prostitution laws. Overall, the bill aims to shift the approach to handling minors involved in prostitution, focusing on rehabilitation rather than criminalization.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 51.20(13)(cr), 51.20, 165.76(1)(am), 165.76, 938.34(15)(a)1, 938.34, 944.30(1m)(intro.), 944.30, 944.30(2m), 973.015(2m)(intro.), 973.015