The meeting previously set for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday has been changed as follows:
The Health & Human Services Committee meets at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, Room 450 in the Capitol.  The agenda includes H.B. 200 and seven other bills. H.B. 200 must be amended by reducing age 18 to age 13 on page 2, line 62.  That change will protect the victims, but will not allow older teens that choose to sell themselves for sexually explicit conduct to claim victim status.

H.B. 200 is the sex trafficking bill that decriminalizes sex crimes for participants under age 18.  It removes all penalties for prostitutes and individuals under 18 who allow sexually explicit conduct to be “obtained” from them FOR HIRE.

The age for decriminalizing prostitution for teenagers must be reduced to 13.  Otherwise, Georgia will become a haven for male and female participants in various sexually explicit professions, including prostitution, masturbation for hire and pornography.

H.B. 200 Sex Trafficking Bill must be amended!

Make contacts before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee meets
Tuesday, March 22nd, at 2:00 p.m., in the Capitol, room 450.

H.B. 200 does very different things – some good, some bad. But it’s easy to fix.

THE FIX: On page 2, line 62 of H.B. 200, reduce the age of 18 to age 13.  If this amendment is not made, teens under 18 could, without legal restraint, earn money by providing sexually explicit conduct that is “obtained” from them.  “Obtained” is the word used in the bill on page 2, line 62 to differentiate between provisions for persons under age 18 and over 18.
Fact: People of all ages voluntarily perform sexually explicit acts for hire and some of those choosing to do so are younger than age 18.
Fact: If sex crime penalties are waived for everyone under 18, the number of young people choosing to perform such acts for hire will multiply and their lives will be ruined.

THE GOOD: (a) H.B. 200 strengthens sex trafficking laws by enhancing penalties for forcing people to perform sex acts for hire, including prostitution.
(b) H.B. 200 allows sex-trafficked persons to be classified as victims if they prove they have been forced into such acts by “coercion” or “deception.”
(c) Those proving coercion or deception would be eligible for victim compensation, regardless of their age or history in prostitution or other sex crimes.

THE BAD: (a) H.B. 200 removes the penalty for sex crimes if the person performing the act is under age 18, disregarding the fact that some individuals under 18 choose to perform sex acts for hire.
(b) Sex crimes for which penalties would be removed are prostitution, sodomy/solicitation of sodomy, masturbation for hire and pornography.
(c) Georgia could become a magnet for anyone under age 18 who wants to work as a prostitute or in other forms of profitable sexual conduct.
(d) State and federal victim compensation funds could be awarded to professional prostitutes, porn workers, etc., unless this bill is amended.

ACTION – Ask members of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee to reduce the age of 18 to age 13 on page two, line 62 of H.B. 200.  The members are 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; and Tate, 404 463-8053, fax 404 463-7783.

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

Critical Pro-Life Action Alert

Please act now!

Tomorrow, Friday, February 11, at 9 a.m. the Health Subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a markup on H.R. 358, the “Protect Life Act.” This is the first step toward moving H.R. 358 forward.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (PA), WILL UNDO THE SECTION IN OBAMACARE WHICH REQUIRES CERTAIN MEDICAL INSURANCE PLANS TO COVER ABORTIONS AND PROVIDES A “CONSCIENCE CLAUSE.” The conscience clause would protect health providers from being forced to undergo abortion training, perform abortions or provide abortion referrals.

If this passes, it will prevent federal funding for abortion or abortion coverage through government-related exchanges, community health centers and the OPM administered plans or any other program authorized or appropriated by ObamaCare.

Georgia’s U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey is on that subcommittee and should get a ton of calls or faxes. He has a “mixed” voting record on life and needs to be encouraged to support this bill.

ACTION: Ask Representative Gingrey to oppose all hostile amendments.
Phone him in D.C. at 1 202 225-2931 or in Rome at 1 706 290-1776.
Fax him in D.C. at 1 202 225-2944 and 1 706 232-7864 in Rome.