Relates to individuals engaged in prostitution who are victims of or witnesses to a crime

• Democratic58
• Republican4

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Luis R. Sepúlveda says this is needed

Sex workers often are victims and witnesses of violent crime and coer- cive exploitation but often don't report crimes due to fear of arrest for prostitution. When criminal abusers are not reported, they continue their violent acts with impunity. The most recent, prescient example is of the Long Island Serial Killer. In 2023, Suffolk County law enforce- ment arrested Rex Heuermann for the murders of three women whose bodies were discovered over a decade prior while there are other unsolved murders that may be associated with this suspect. His victims were known sex workers and he continued patronizing sex workers while law enforce- ment monitored him without obtaining potentially helpful testimony from witnesses or victims. This bill protects a victim or witness to a crime from prosecution for prostitution, prostitution in a school zone, or permitting prostitution (which is what a roommate would be charged with) when they seek help. The concept is similar to the so-called "Good Samaritan" law enacted in 2011 to protect people who seek help for someone suffering an overdose. Similar legislation has already been passed in Alaska, California, Colo- rado, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. This legis- lation has also received support from: Alvin Bragg (NYC DA), Decriminal- ize Sex Work, ECLI-VIBES, Girl Vow Inc., We Are Revolutionary, SOAR Institute, Old Pros, Legal Aid Society, and Hudson Catskill Housing Coalition.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.