The Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters passed SB 4 on human trafficking. It prohibits knowingly or intentionally recruiting, harboring, or transporting a child less than sixteen (16) years of age with the intent of engaging the child in forced labor or involuntary servitude; or with the intent of inducing or causing the child to engage in prostitution or participate in sexual conduct (as defined by IC 35-42-4-4). It’s not a defense that the child consents to the activity.
With SuperBowl looming, will the GOP stop their Right To Work gamesmanship to pass this Bill?
I interpret the bill to state that if a 16 y/o (or younger if he drives illegally) boy drives his girlfriend, a 15 y/o girl in his class, and “transports” her (to her home or his home) because he wants to have sex with her, that constitutes human trafficking under this law. Is there a exception for minor Romeos that I do not see?
Just to be clear, I don’t see where the type of exception provided in 35-42-4-4 (f)(2) is used for this new law. Does anyone else see it?
This law sounds great! As the parent of a 13 year old who “under threat of force” I have “intentionally transported” down to the park and then did engage him in “forced labor” (I assure you, he did not want to be there) to help me pick up the trash and refuse therein and deposit it in the local bins, I am now a proud potential Class B felon in human trafficking.
What? You disagree? A literal reading of the appended law makes no exemption for parental forced labor.