An Act relative to sexually exploited individuals

This bill creates a new fund within the Department of Public Health to support programs that prevent sexual exploitation and assist victims, while also requiring the department to publish an annual report on service usage and gaps. The legislation repeals existing laws that criminalize certain behaviors associated with prostitution and establishes a task force to train law enforcement officers on identifying and responding to human trafficking cases. By removing criminal penalties for specific acts and focusing resources on prevention and victim support, the bill aims to shift the approach toward addressing sexual exploitation through public health and community-based services rather than solely through punishment.