Texas Tribune by Lara Korte June 21, 2019
Lawmakers praised a bill for protecting victims of human trafficking, but the governor said it it would have "unintended consequences" and could provide an incentive for human traffickers to use underage prostitutes.Children in Texas can still be charged with prostitution after Gov. Greg Abbott this month vetoed a popular bill prohibiting prostituted minors from being arrested or going to juvenile court.
House Bill 1771, authored by Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, would have changed the Texas penal code to not include children in its definition of prostitution. Law enforcement officers would still have the power to apprehend minors they suspected were involved in prostitution, but instead of going to jail, the children would be returned to their parents or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services.
Thierry said she was shocked to learn the Republican governor had vetoed the bill, especially since she had worked with his office throughout the session to craft the legislation. The current system, she said, only further hurts children who have been victims of sexual abuse.
More:
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/21/abbott-vetos-child-prostitution-bill/
