TO EXPAND THE SEALING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE THAT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS; AND TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY NO-CONTACT ORDER IN A HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE.

Senate Bill 429, now Act 665, enhances protections for victims of human trafficking in Arkansas. It allows victims of human trafficking to petition for the sealing of prostitution convictions that occurred as a result of their trafficking, regardless of whether they were a minor or an adult at the time of the offense. The bill also mandates that courts issue a no-contact order for defendants charged with offenses under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013. Additionally, it updates state code definitions to include human trafficking offenses in the scope of "victim" and "offense against a victim who is a minor."