Please act immediately on the following.  Phone calls are great, but a fax would be a hard copy the secretary would hand to the legislator, who could refer to it during the committee meeting, whenever it is scheduled.

Suggestion: if you use a fax machine, you may compose ONE short message WITHOUT addressing it to anyone and use a post-it note to insert the legislator’s name.  Faxing from a computer might be even more convenient and it’s a fast way to get messages to legislators.

ACTION ALERT!
H.B. 200 Provides Victim status for Prostitutes Under Age 18

Status: Passed the House March 2, 2011
Now in Senate Health & Human Services Committee

Problem: H.B. 200 is about sex trafficking, which is a heinous crime.  However, it indicates to the world that Georgia approves of sexually explicit conduct “obtained” from anyone under 18.

Remedy: H.B. 200 should be amended to reduce the age of 18 years to the age of 13 on page 2, line 62 of the committee substitute.

Details: H.B. 200 would remove all penalties for individuals under age 18 if they choose to participate in prostitution, sodomy/solicitation for sodomy, masturbation for hire or pornographic performances.  Also, they could charge for such services and would not be charged for breaking the law.

Although individuals might choose such conduct as money-making professions, participants under age 18 would not be charged with a crime, but would be given “victim” status and eligibility for victim compensation.

Although older participants in prostitution, sodomy/solicitation for sodomy, masturbation for hire or pornographic performances would be required to prove they were forced to perform under “coercion” or “deception,” participants under 18 would automatically classify as “sexual servitude” victims, if sexually explicit conduct were “obtained” from them.

Immediate ACTION – Ask Health and Human Services Committee members to reduce age 18 to age 13 on page 2, line 62 of H.B. 200 (SUB).  Please call or fax them as follows:

Senators Unterman, Ch.    404 463-1368         fax 404 651-6768
Carter, V-Ch.             404 656-5109         fax 404 657-3217
Goggans, Sec.            404 463-5263         fax 404 656-6484
Balfour                       404 656-0095         fax 404 656-6581
Judson Hill                 404 656-0150         fax 404 463-2535
Millar                         404 463-2260                  no fax
Williams                     404 656-0089         fax 404 463-5220
Grant                         404 656-0082         fax 404 657-3248
Ligon                         404 656-0045                  no fax
Henson                      404 656-0085         fax 404 651-7078
Jackson                      404 463-5261         fax 404 463-1388
Orrock                       404 463-8054         fax 404 657-7853
Tate                           404 463-8053         fax 404 463-7783