Increase Surcharge For Trafficking Children

Current law requires each person who is convicted of a crime against a child to pay a surcharge to the clerk of the court for the judicial district in which the conviction occurs. The bill adds the crime of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude to the definition of crime against a child for purposes of the surcharge. For a class 2 felony, the amount of the fine is $1,500. The bill states that if the class 2 felony is for human trafficking of a minor for involuntary servitude or for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, then the amount of the fine is $3,000. Additionally, in cases where an offender is required to pay the new surcharge, the court is encouraged to delay any finding of indigence until 6 months after the offender's conviction, at which time the court may require the defendant or defendant's counsel to submit documents that substantiate the defendant's indigence. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More