Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1693
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Human trafficking
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Pornography
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to specify that communications decency provisions protecting providers from liability for the private blocking or screening of offensive material shall not be construed to impair the enforcement of, or limit availability of victim restitution or civil remedies under, state or federal criminal or civil laws relating to sex trafficking of children or sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. 
 
The bill amends the federal criminal code to specify that the violation for benefiting from "participation in a venture" engaged in sex trafficking of children, or by force, fraud, or coercion, includes knowing conduct by any person or entity by any means that assists, supports, or facilitates the violation.
 
 

action_date: 2018-01-10
text: 

Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to specify that communications decency provisions protecting providers from liability for the private blocking or screening of offensive material shall not be construed to impair or limit civil action or criminal prosecution under state or federal criminal or civil laws relating to sex trafficking of children or sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. 
 
(Sec. 4) The bill amends the federal criminal code to specify that the violation for benefiting from "participation in a venture" engaged in sex trafficking of children, or sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, includes knowingly assisting, supporting, or facilitating the violation.
 
(Sec. 5) The bill amends the federal criminal code to allow a state attorney general to bring a civil action in U.S. district court on behalf of the state's residents if the attorney general believes an interest of the residents has been or is threatened or adversely affected by any person who knowingly participates in the sex trafficking of children or sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 292.
action_date: 2018-01-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-199.
action_date: 2018-01-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-199.
action_date: 2017-11-08
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4670-4671)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate