Unbelievable: Two Georgia Bills Decriminalize
Juvenile Prostitution

See H.B. 582 of 2009 and S.B. 304 of 2010
Want to protect juveniles? Enforce prostitution laws. Don’t decriminalize it.

H.B. 582, introduced on February 26, 2009 by Representative Wendell Willard, remains in his Judiciary Committee for action this session. With eight words, “who is 18 years of age or older,” he wants to amend Title 16, Chapter 6 of the Official Code of Georgia to eliminate all penalties for prostitution for anyone under age 18. Result: with no pesky law to restrict them, minors caught for prostitution could prostitute themselves with impunity.
ACTION – Oppose. Call Representative Willard at 404 656-5125 and ask him to keep H.B. 582 in his committee.

S.B. 304, introduced by Senator Renee Unterman on January 12, 2010 for action this session, also decriminalizes prostitution for minors, but she chooses the cut-off age of under 16, since 16 is the legal age of consent in Georgia.
Legalized and decriminalized are not identical terms. Government is involved in a legalized entity. Decriminalizing prostitution means removal of governmental interest, restrictions, and penalties. Double standard: prostitutes under 16 would be outside the law, not penalized, not arrested. However, prostitution for ages 16 and up would continue to be illegal and penalized.
Also, S.B. 304 amends three other laws – Code Sections 19-7-5 concerning domestic relations,
19-15-1 about child abuse and 49-5-40 relating to social services – to avoid their being used to
bring prostitution charges against offenders under 16.
ACTION – Oppose. Call Judiciary Committee Senators listed at the bottom of page 4.

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