SB356 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dick Brewbaker

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Human Trafficking Safe Harbor Act, crimes of prostitution, sexually exploited children, conviction or delinquency adjudication of prostitution prohibited under certain conditions, retention of jurisdiction by juvenile court, additional fines, counseling required, detention of foreign nationals under certain conditions, Sec. 13A-12-123 added

Summary

SB356 creates a Safe Harbor for sexually exploited children, keeping them out of prostitution prosecutions and under juvenile court protection with expanded services.

What This Bill Does

It defines a sexually exploited child and prohibits adjudicating such a child for prostitution; instead, the child may be adjudicated as a child in need of supervision or as a dependent child. It prevents transferring these cases to adult court and keeps juvenile court jurisdiction to issue orders protecting the child. It requires broad social and community services for sexually exploited children and adds a mandatory $500 fine for certain prostitution-related offenses, with the money going to a court-certified therapeutic counselor for education and treatment. It also allows up to 72 hours of detention for non-English-speaking foreign nationals arrested for prostitution to ensure access to resources, and it exempts the bill from local-funding requirements because it creates or changes a crime or its definitions.

Who It Affects

• Sexually exploited children under 18 in Alabama, who would be protected from prostitution charges and instead treated as children in need of supervision or dependent, with access to targeted services.
• Individuals connected to prostitution-related offenses and non-English-speaking foreign nationals arrested for prostitution, who would face new or modified consequences such as a $500 fine directed to counseling services, potential court-ordered counseling, and possible 72-hour detention to access resources.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 13A-12-123 to define a sexually exploited child and to prohibit adjudication for prostitution, allowing treatment as a child in need of supervision or a dependent child; keeps juvenile court jurisdiction.
• Prohibits transferring cases involving sexually exploited children who commit prostitution from juvenile court to adult court; juvenile court retains jurisdiction and can issue protective orders.
• Requires social and community services for sexually exploited children, including counseling, shelter, medical care, educational support, legal services, crisis intervention, and related resources.
• Imposes a mandatory $500 fine on convictions for promoting prostitution and related offenses, to be paid to the clerk of court and distributed to a court-certified therapeutic counseling entity for education, treatment, and prevention.
• Allows the court to require counseling or educational programs for offenders convicted of prostitution-related offenses, with the cost borne by the offender.
• Allows detention for up to 72 hours of non-English-speaking foreign nationals arrested for prostitution to ensure access to health care, shelter, counseling, and other resources, with court involvement to arrange services.
• Exempts the bill from certain local-funding requirements ( Amendment 621 ) because it creates a new crime or amends an existing crime.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Human Trafficking