Human trafficking-penalty for subsequent conviction.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how repeat offenders will be identified or tracked across different jurisdictions, leaving this as an open question.

Human Trafficking - Increased Penalties for Repeat Offenders

This law increases penalties for people who are convicted more than once of human trafficking, especially if the victim is a minor.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new penalty for repeat offenders of first-degree and second-degree human trafficking.
• Requires at least twenty-five years in prison or life without parole for subsequent convictions under certain conditions.

Who It Names or Affects

• People convicted of human trafficking in Wyoming.
• Victims of human trafficking, especially minors.

Terms To Know

Human Trafficking

The act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.

Subsequent Convictions

Convictions that occur after an initial conviction for the same crime.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 2020.
• It does not specify how repeat offenders will be identified or tracked across different jurisdictions.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0183
Bill No.:

HB0010

Effective:

7/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

20LSO-0183

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0001

Chapter No.:

1

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Human trafficking-penalty for subsequent conviction.

Subject:

Increasing penalties for subsequent convictions of human trafficking.

Summary/Major Elements:

The act provides that, for second or subsequent convictions of first-degree and second-degree human trafficking, the penalty is not less than twenty-five (25) years' imprisonment up to and including life imprisonment without parole.

The enhanced penalty applies if the victim is a minor; the defendant has one (1) or more previous convictions for first-degree or second-degree human trafficking and the defendant is convicted for the offenses after turning eighteen (18) years old.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0183

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0010

ENROLLED ACT NO. 1,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a penalty for subsequent convictions of human trafficking as specified; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
712 is created to read:

6
‑
2
‑
712.

Penalties for subsequent human trafficking convictions.

(a)

A person who is convicted of human trafficking under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
702 or 6
‑
2
‑
703 shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than twenty
‑
five (25) years or for life imprisonment without parole if:

(i)

The victim in the instant case was a minor;

(ii)

The person has one (1) or more previous convictions for a violation of W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
702, 6
‑
2
‑
703 or a criminal statute containing the same or similar elements as the crimes defined by W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
702 or 6
‑
2
‑
703 where the victim was a minor and which arose out of separate occurrences in this state or elsewhere; and

(iii)

The convictions were for offenses committed after the person reached eighteen (18) years of age.

Section 2.

W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
702(b) and 6
‑
2
‑
703(b) are amended to read:

6
‑
2
‑
702.

Human trafficking in the first degree; penalty.

(b)

Except as provided in W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
712(a), h
uman trafficking in the first degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not less than five (5) nor more than fifty (50) years unless the victim is a minor in which case it is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not less than twenty
‑
five (25) nor more than fifty (50) years and a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

6
‑
2
‑
703.

Human trafficking in the second degree; penalty.

(b)

Except as provided in W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
712(a), h
uman trafficking in the second degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not less than two (2) nor more than twenty (20) years and a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

Section 3.

The provisions of this act shall apply to crimes committed on or after the effective date of this act.

Section 4
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1