On June 16th, 2009 the New York State Assembly took an important step in giving victims of sex trafficking the opportunity for a safe and stable life by enabling them to expunge their records of prostitution convictions. The Chair of the Committee of Health, Richard Gottfried, first introduced A.B. 7670, which passed in the Assembly and has now been referred to the Senate. An identical bill introduced by Senator Tom Duane is currently pending before the Senate Codes Committee. The bill will give victims of sex trafficking the ability to have more options in legal employment, public housing, and immigration. It has received support from law and criminal justice professionals and human rights organizations. A vote on the Senate bill, S.B. 4429, is not currently scheduled.
Compiled from: New York State Assembly Gives Trafficking Victims a Second Chance, (16 June 2009).