AUGUSTA — A Republican state senator has introduced a bill that aims to further strengthen Maine’s laws against human trafficking.

Sen. Amy Volk’s bill would add aggravated sex trafficking to the list of crimes that can turn a misdemeanor sex trafficking charge into a felony if that person has been convicted of two or more offenses. It makes a variety of other changes to Maine’s criminal laws.

Volk says she’s hopeful this is “yet another step in preventing human trafficking and making sure victims get the help they need.”

A bill sponsored by Volk and signed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage last year made sex trafficking an affirmative defense to prostitution charges and provided victims with access to a compensation fund. It also boosted fines for human trafficking offenders.

 


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