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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowState legislators gave their final approval Friday to a bill toughening Indiana's penalties for sex trafficking, sending it to Gov. Mitch Daniels for him to sign into law ahead of next weekend's Super Bowl in Indianapolis.
The Indiana House voted 93-0 in favor of the measure, which cleared the state Senate on a 48-0 vote earlier this month.
Prosecutors say the bill would make it easier to prosecute sex trafficking cases involving victims younger than 16 and broaden the law for cases with older victims.
Supporters of the bill sought to have it approved before the Feb. 5 Super Bowl, citing increased levels of prostitution that have accompanied many major sports events around the country.
Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, said most people didn't understand the seriousness of the human trafficking problem and that it was important for legislators to send the message the "Indiana does not stand for that type of abhorrent behavior."
The bill makes recruiting, transporting or harboring anyone younger than 16 for prostitution or other sexual conduct a felony punishable by 20 to 50 years in prison. It also would bar defendants from arguing a child consented to the sexual activity.
The bill also makes it illegal for anyone to sell or transfer custody of a child for sexual activity. Current law only mentions a child's parent, guardian or custodian.
Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville, pointed out that the measure covers more than those trafficked for prostitution, but also instances in which people would be enticed into the country by promises of jobs only to be essentially held in slavery.
Daniels and state Attorney General Greg Zoeller had asked legislators to approve the tougher measures so they could be used in any Super Bowl-related cases.
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