By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona has signed into law a new measure that significantly increases penalties for individuals who pay or agree to pay for prostitution, targeting the demand side of prostitution and sex trafficking by elevating these offenses to felonies with mandatory jail time. The law also directs dedicated funding toward support services for victims of sexual trafficking.
House Bill 2720, sponsored by Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD1), passed both chambers of the Legislature with bipartisan support and has been signed into law. The measure targets individuals who “offer to pay, agree to pay, or pay a monetary fee or other valuable consideration for engaging in sexual conduct with another person,” classifying such acts as a Class 6 felony under revisions to A.R.S. § 13-3214.
The law imposes mandatory minimum jail sentences: 15 consecutive days for a first time offense, 30 days for a second, and 60 days for a third, with no eligibility for probation or suspended sentences until the full term is served. Repeat offenders with three or more prior violations face Class 4 felony charges and at least 180 consecutive days in jail.
“Arizona is going after the demand that fuels prostitution and sex trafficking,” stated Rep. Bliss. “This is a victory for families, neighborhoods, and victims who deserve a path out. The people paying for sex are funding an industry that traffickers exploit, and communities across Arizona are left to deal with the crime, abuse, and damage that follow.”
In addition, convicted offenders must pay a non-waivable $200 assessment. These funds will be transmitted to the state’s Anti-Human Trafficking Grant Fund and used exclusively to provide services to victims of sexual trafficking.
HB 2720 also strengthens protections for survivors by requiring courts to seal records of prostitution convictions that are later vacated upon determination that the individual was a victim of sex trafficking. This provision aims to remove barriers to employment, housing, and recovery for those exiting exploitation.
“This law holds offenders accountable, puts money directly toward helping victims recover, and puts every person who pays for sex in Arizona on notice: you can face jail time, a felony record, and the consequences that come with it,” added Rep. Bliss.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
