What's happening
This bill amends the law so that individuals under 16 caught loitering for prostitution are adjudicated as juvenile delinquents, not charged criminally.
Why it matters
Recognizes minors under 16 involved in prostitution as victims rather than criminals. , shifting their cases to family court and juvenile justice systems instead of subjecting them to adult criminal penalties.
Opens access to social services and interventions. such as counseling, support programs, and rehabilitation, rather than incarceration, which may improve long-term outcomes and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Aligns with broader trends in juvenile justice reform and anti-trafficking efforts. , acknowledging that young teens involved in prostitution are often exploited and should not be treated as adult offenders.
Could reduce the stigma and long-term consequences of a criminal record. for vulnerable youth, supporting their chances for recovery, education, and future employment.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Send Minors to Family Court
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History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4231
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution by persons under the age of sixteen
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 240.37 of the penal law, subdivision 2 as amended and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 368 of the laws of 2015, are amended and a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
2. [Any] Except as provided in subdivision five of this section, any person who remains or wanders about in a public place and repeatedly beckons to, or repeatedly stops, or repeatedly attempts to stop, or repeatedly attempts to engage passers-by in conversation, or repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicles, or repeatedly interferes with the free passage of other persons, for the purpose of prostitution as that term is defined in article two hundred thirty of this part, shall be guilty of a violation and is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if such person has previously been convicted of a violation of this section or of section 230.00 of this part.
3. Any person who remains or wanders about in a public place and repeatedly beckons to, or repeatedly stops, or repeatedly attempts to stop, passers-by, or repeatedly attempts to engage passers-by in conversation, or repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicles, or repeatedly interferes with the free passage of other persons, for the purpose of patronizing a person for prostitution as defined in section 230.02 of this part, shall be guilty of a violation and is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if such person has previously been convicted of a violation of this section or of section 230.04, 230.05, 230.06 or 230.08 of this part.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07509-01-9
A. 4231 2
5. Any person under the age of sixteen who remains or wanders about in a public place and repeatedly beckons to, or repeatedly stops, or repeatedly attempts to stop, passers-by, or repeatedly attempts to engage passers-by in conversation, or repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicles, or repeatedly interferes with the free passage of other persons, for the purpose of prostitution as defined in article two hundred thirty of this part, shall be adjudged a juvenile delinquent.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.