In the 2011 legislative special session, the legislature passed a Safe Harbor law that began addressing how sexually exploited youth are viewed in the eyes of the law in Minnesota. Under this law, sexually exploited youth under age 18 are viewed as victims of crime (children in need of protection) rather than juvenile delinquents, at least for their first encounter with the criminal justice system. For youth ages 16 to 17, subsequent encounters have different outcomes.
This year, a bill was introduced that would expand the Safe Harbor law, S.F. 384 (see bill text of the First Engrossment). This bill continues the work from 2011 to prevent child sex trafficking and provide services for sexually exploited youth.
Director of Child Sex Trafficking Prevention
To begin, S.F. 384 would establish a new position, Director of Child Sex Trafficking Prevention. The individual in this new position would have responsibilities spanning professional training needs, resource dissemination requests, and identification of best practices. The individual would also be responsible for applying for federal funding and managing grants under the Safe Harbor act in addition to evaluating the Safe Harbor statewide program. Additional responsibilities include providing oversight and technical support, and developing a policy on sharing data related to sexually exploited youth.
Regional Navigator Grants
Specifically, the new director would provide grants to regional navigators in 6 regions of the state. These navigators would be responsible for providing services and resources specific to that region’s population of sexually exploited youth.
Expanding “Safe Harbor”
Should this bill pass:

  • Sexually exploited youth ages 16 and 17 years would no longer be considered delinquent children or juvenile petty offenders.
  • Youth ages 16 to 17 years would not have different outcomes depending on the number of encounters they have with the law.
  • “Child in need of protection or services” would include a child who “is a sexually exploited youth,” rather than a child who “has engaged in prostitution,” meaning that the term “prostitution” would no longer be applied at all to children.
  • Appropriations would be set aside for services for sexually exploited youth, such as legal/advocacy, health care, chemical health, education, and family reunification services.
  • Housing would also be addressed, with appropriations set aside for expanding emergency shelter beds, transitional living programs, child foster care homes, and supportive housing services.

Senate and House Status
So far, the Senate Judiciary committee has amended the original bill text and re-referred it to Health, Human Services and Housing committee, which will hear the bill tonight at 6 PM in Room 15 Capitol.
The House has heard its version, H.F. 485, in its Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy committee, which passed it as-is and re-referred it to the Housing Finance and Policy committee, which has yet to set a hearing.