Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, walked out of the state Senate smiling Tuesday after championing a bill that would strengthen penalties for sex trafficking.
House Bill 200, which the Senate passed 54-0, would increase a prison sentence for trafficking from one year to between 10 and 20 years and impose a fine up to $100,000. If the person trafficked is younger than 18 and coerced, the sentence would jump to 25 to 50 years.
The bill, sponsored by House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, also would provide for police training guidelines for dealing with sex trafficking and subpoena powers.
A coalition of political, social and religious groups, such as Street Grace, worked for two years pushing such legislation.
The bill is now headed to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal, who will decide whether to sign it into law.
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