TO AMEND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OFFENSES; TO ENHANCE THE PENALTIES FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION IN THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD DEGREE; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF PROMOTING PROSTITUTION AT A BUSINESS.

Senate Bill 427 enhances penalties for existing promoting prostitution offenses across the first, second, and third degrees. The bill reclassifies these offenses, increasing their severity, and creates a new offense specifically for promoting prostitution at a business. It also introduces mandatory fines, ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, for individuals convicted of paying for sexual activity. These fine payments are directed to the Safe Harbor Fund for Sexually Exploited Children and the Human Trafficking Victim Support Fund.