REFERENCE TITLE: human trafficking; prostitution

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-first Legislature

Second Regular Session

2014

 

 

HB 2454

 

Introduced by

Representative Farnsworth E

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending sections 13‑701, 13‑2301, 13‑3212 and 13‑3214, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to human trafficking.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 13-701, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-701.  Sentence of imprisonment for felony; presentence report; aggravating and mitigating factors; consecutive terms of imprisonment; definition

A.  A sentence of imprisonment for a felony shall be a definite term of years and the person sentenced, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be committed to the custody of the state department of corrections.

B.  No prisoner may be transferred to the custody of the state department of corrections without a certified copy of the judgment and sentence, signed by the sentencing judge, and a copy of a recent presentence investigation report unless the court has waived preparation of the report.

C.  The minimum or maximum term imposed pursuant to section 13‑702, 13‑703, 13‑704, 13‑705, 13‑708, 13‑710, 13‑1406, 13‑3212 or 13‑3419 may be imposed only if one or more of the circumstances alleged to be in aggravation of the crime are found to be true by the trier of fact beyond a reasonable doubt or are admitted by the defendant, except that an alleged aggravating circumstance under subsection D, paragraph 11 of this section shall be found to be true by the court, or in mitigation of the crime are found to be true by the court, on any evidence or information introduced or submitted to the court or the trier of fact before sentencing or any evidence presented at trial, and factual findings and reasons in support of such findings are set forth on the record at the time of sentencing.

D.  For the purpose of determining the sentence pursuant to subsection C of this section, the trier of fact shall determine and the court shall consider the following aggravating circumstances, except that the court shall determine an aggravating circumstance under paragraph 11 of this subsection:

1.  Infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical injury, except if this circumstance is an essential element of the offense of conviction or has been utilized to enhance the range of punishment under section 13‑704.

2.  Use, threatened use or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument during the commission of the crime, except if this circumstance is an essential element of the offense of conviction or has been utilized to enhance the range of punishment under section 13-704.

3.  If the offense involves the taking of or damage to property, the value of the property taken or damaged.

4.  Presence of an accomplice.

5.  Especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner in which the offense was committed.

6.  The defendant committed the offense as consideration for the receipt, or in the expectation of the receipt, of anything of pecuniary value.

7.  The defendant procured the commission of the offense by payment, or promise of payment, of anything of pecuniary value.

8.  At the time of the commission of the offense, the defendant was a public servant and the offense involved conduct directly related to the defendant's office or employment.

9.  The victim or, if the victim has died as a result of the conduct of the defendant, the victim's immediate family suffered physical, emotional or financial harm.

10.  During the course of the commission of the offense, the death of an unborn child at any stage of its development occurred.

11.  The defendant was previously convicted of a felony within the ten years immediately preceding the date of the offense.  A conviction outside the jurisdiction of this state for an offense that if committed in this state would be punishable as a felony is a felony conviction for the purposes of this paragraph.

12.  The defendant was wearing body armor as defined in section 13‑3116.

13.  The victim of the offense is at least sixty-five years of age or is a disabled person as defined in section 38-492, subsection B.

14.  The defendant was appointed pursuant to title 14 as a fiduciary and the offense involved conduct directly related to the defendant's duties to the victim as fiduciary.

15.  Evidence that the defendant committed the crime out of malice toward a victim because of the victim's identity in a group listed in section 41‑1750, subsection A, paragraph 3 or because of the defendant's perception of the victim's identity in a group listed in section 41‑1750, subsection A, paragraph 3.

16.  The defendant was convicted of a violation of section 13‑1102, section 13‑1103, section 13‑1104, subsection A, paragraph 3 or section 13‑1204, subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 arising from an act that was committed while driving a motor vehicle and the defendant's alcohol concentration at the time of committing the offense was 0.15 or more.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "alcohol concentration" has the same meaning prescribed in section 28‑101.

17.  Lying in wait for the victim or ambushing the victim during the commission of any felony.

18.  The offense was committed in the presence of a child and any of the circumstances exists that are set forth in section 13‑3601, subsection A.

19.  The offense was committed in retaliation for a victim either reporting criminal activity or being involved in an organization, other than a law enforcement agency, that is established for the purpose of reporting or preventing criminal activity.

20.  The defendant was impersonating a peace officer as defined in section 1‑215.

21.  The defendant was in violation of 8 United States Code section 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 or 1328 at the time of the commission of the offense.

22.  The defendant used a remote stun gun or an authorized remote stun gun in the commission of the offense.  For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a)  "Authorized remote stun gun" means a remote stun gun that has all of the following:

(i)  An electrical discharge that is less than one hundred thousand volts and less than nine joules of energy per pulse.

(ii)  A serial or identification number on all projectiles that are discharged from the remote stun gun.

(iii)  An identification and tracking system that, on deployment of remote electrodes, disperses coded material that is traceable to the purchaser through records that are kept by the manufacturer on all remote stun guns and all individual cartridges sold.

(iv)  A training program that is offered by the manufacturer.

(b)  "Remote stun gun" means an electronic device that emits an electrical charge and that is designed and primarily employed to incapacitate a person or animal either through contact with electrodes on the device itself or remotely through wired probes that are attached to the device or through a spark, plasma, ionization or other conductive means emitting from the device.

23.  During or immediately following the commission of the offense, the defendant committed a violation of section 28-661, 28-662 or 28-663.

24.  The defendant was convicted of a violation of section 13‑1307 or 13‑1308 and the defendant recruited, enticed or obtained the victim from a shelter that is designed to serve runaway youth, foster children, homeless persons or victims of human trafficking, domestic violence or sexual assault.

24.  25.  Any other factor that the state alleges is relevant to the defendant's character or background or to the nature or circumstances of the crime.

E.  For the purpose of determining the sentence pursuant to subsection C of this section, the court shall consider the following mitigating circumstances:

1.  The age of the defendant.

2.  The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of the defendant's conduct or to conform the defendant's conduct to the requirements of law was significantly impaired, but not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution.

3.  The defendant was under unusual or substantial duress, although not to a degree that would constitute a defense to prosecution.

4.  The degree of the defendant's participation in the crime was minor, although not so minor as to constitute a defense to prosecution.

5.  During or immediately following the commission of the offense, the defendant complied with all duties imposed under sections 28-661, 28-662 and 28‑663.

6.  Any other factor that is relevant to the defendant's character or background or to the nature or circumstances of the crime and that the court finds to be mitigating.

F.  If the trier of fact finds at least one aggravating circumstance, the trial court may find by a preponderance of the evidence additional aggravating circumstances.  In determining what sentence to impose, the court shall take into account the amount of aggravating circumstances and whether the amount of mitigating circumstances is sufficiently substantial to justify the lesser term.  If the trier of fact finds aggravating circumstances and the court does not find any mitigating circumstances, the court shall impose an aggravated sentence.

G.  The court in imposing a sentence shall consider the evidence and opinions presented by the victim or the victim's immediate family at any aggravation or mitigation proceeding or in the presentence report.

H.  This section does not affect any provision of law that imposes the death penalty, that expressly provides for imprisonment for life or that authorizes or restricts the granting of probation and suspending the execution of sentence.

I.  The intentional failure by the court to impose the mandatory sentences or probation conditions provided in this title is malfeasance.

J.  For the purposes of this section, "trier of fact" means a jury, unless the defendant and the state waive a jury in which case the trier of fact means the court. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Section 13-2301, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-2301.  Definitions

A.  For the purposes of sections 13‑2302, 13‑2303 and 13‑2304:

1.  "Collect an extension of credit" means to induce in any way any person to make repayment of that extension.

2.  "Creditor" means any person making an extension of credit or any person claiming by, under or through any person making an extension of credit.

3.  "Debtor" means any person to whom an extension of credit is made or any person who guarantees the repayment of an extension of credit, or in any manner undertakes to indemnify the creditor against loss resulting from the failure of any person to whom an extension is made to repay the extension.

4.  "Extend credit" means to make or renew any loan or to enter into any agreement, tacit or express, whereby the repayment or satisfaction of any debt or claim, whether acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, and however arising, may or shall be deferred.

5.  "Extortionate extension of credit" means any extension of credit with respect to which it is the understanding of the creditor and the debtor at the time the extension is made that delay in making repayment or failure to make repayment could result in the use of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to the person or the reputation or property of any person.

6.  "Extortionate means" means the use, or an express or implicit threat of use, of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to the person or the reputation or property of any person.

7.  "Repayment of any extension of credit" means the repayment, satisfaction or discharge in whole or in part of any debt or claim, acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, resulting from or in connection with that extension of credit.

B.  For the purposes of section 13‑2305, 13‑2306 or 13‑2307:

1.  "Dealer in property" means a person who buys and sells property as a business.

2.  "Stolen property" means property of another as defined in section 13‑1801 that has been the subject of any unlawful taking.

3.  "Traffic" means to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense or otherwise dispose of stolen property to another person, or to buy, receive, possess or obtain control of stolen property, with the intent to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense or otherwise dispose of the property to another person.

C.  For the purposes of this chapter:

1.  "Animal activity" means a commercial enterprise that uses animals for food, clothing or fiber production, agriculture or biotechnology.

2.  "Animal facility" means a building or premises where a commercial activity in which the use of animals is essential takes place, which may include including a zoo, rodeo, circus, amusement park, hunting preserve and horse and dog event.

3.  "Animal or ecological terrorism" means any felony in violation of section 13‑2312, subsection B that involves at least three persons acting in concert, that involves the intentional or knowing infliction of property damage in an amount of more than ten thousand dollars to the property that is used by a person for the operation of a lawfully conducted animal activity or to a commercial enterprise that is engaged in a lawfully operated animal facility or research facility and that involves either:

(a)  The use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

(b)  The intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury on a person engaged in a lawfully conducted animal activity or participating in a lawfully conducted animal facility or research facility.

4.  "Biological agent" means any microorganism, virus, infectious substance or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance or biological product and that is capable of causing any of the following:

(a)  Death, disease or physical injury in a human, animal, plant or other living organism.

(b)  The deterioration or contamination of air, food, water, equipment, supplies or material of any kind.

5.  "Combination" means persons who collaborate in carrying on or furthering the activities or purposes of a criminal syndicate even though such persons may not know each other's identity, membership in the combination changes from time to time or one or more members may stand in a wholesaler‑retailer or other arm's length relationship with others as to activities or dealings between or among themselves in an illicit operation.

6.  "Communication service provider" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13‑3001.

7.  "Criminal syndicate" means any combination of persons or enterprises engaging, or having the purpose of engaging, on a continuing basis in conduct that violates any one or more provisions of any felony statute of this state.

8.  "Explosive agent" means an explosive as defined in section 13‑3101 and flammable fuels or fire accelerants in amounts over fifty gallons but excludes:

(a)  Fireworks as defined in section 36‑1601.

(b)  Firearms.

(c)  A propellant actuated device or propellant actuated industrial tool.

(d)  A device that is commercially manufactured primarily for the purpose of illumination.

(e)  A rocket having a propellant charge of less than four ounces.

9.  "Material support or resources" includes money or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, sustenance, training, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, disguises and other physical assets but does not include medical assistance, legal assistance or religious materials.

10.  "Public establishment" means a structure that is owned, leased or operated by this state or a political subdivision of this state or a health care institution as defined in section 36‑401.

11.  "Research facility" means a laboratory, institution, medical care facility, government facility, public or private educational institution or nature preserve at which a scientific test, experiment or investigation involving the use of animals is lawfully carried out, conducted or attempted.

12.  "Terrorism" means any felony, including any completed or preparatory offense, that involves the use of a deadly weapon or a weapon of mass destruction or the intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury with the intent to either:

(a)  Influence the policy or affect the conduct of this state or any of the political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities of this state.

(b)  Cause substantial damage to or substantial interruption of public communications, communication service providers, public transportation, common carriers, public utilities, public establishments or other public services.

13.  "Toxin" means the toxic material of plants, animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi or infectious substances or a recombinant molecule, whatever its origin or method of reproduction, including:

(a)  Any poisonous substance or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology and that is produced by a living organism.

(b)  Any poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog or derivative of such substance.

14.  "Vector" means a living organism or molecule, including a recombinant molecule or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology, that is capable of carrying a biological agent or toxin to a host.

15.  "Weapon of mass destruction" means:

(a)  Any device or object that is designed or that the person intends to use to cause multiple deaths or serious physical injuries through the use of an explosive agent or the release, dissemination or impact of a toxin, biological agent, poisonous chemical, or its precursor, or any vector.

(b)  Except as authorized and used in accordance with a license, registration or exemption by the radiation regulatory agency pursuant to section 30‑672, any device or object that is designed or that the person intends to use to release radiation or radioactivity at a level that is dangerous to human life.

D.  For the purposes of sections 13‑2312, 13‑2313, 13‑2314 and 13‑2315, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.  "Control", in relation to an enterprise, means the possession of sufficient means to permit substantial direction over the affairs of an enterprise and, in relation to property, means to acquire or possess.

2.  "Enterprise" means any corporation, partnership, association, labor union or other legal entity or any group of persons associated in fact although not a legal entity.

3.  "Financial institution" means any business under the jurisdiction of the department of financial institutions or a banking or securities regulatory agency of the United States, a business coming within the definition of a bank, financial agency or financial institution as prescribed by 31 United States Code section 5312 or 31 Code of Federal Regulations section 103.11 or a business under the jurisdiction of the securities division of the corporation commission, the state real estate department or the department of insurance.

4.  "Racketeering" means any act, including any preparatory or completed offense, that is chargeable or indictable under the laws of the state or country in which the act occurred and, if the act occurred in a state or country other than this state, that would be chargeable or indictable under the laws of this state if the act had occurred in this state, and that would be punishable by imprisonment for more than one year under the laws of this state and, if the act occurred in a state or country other than this state, under the laws of the state or country in which the act occurred, regardless of whether the act is charged or indicted, and the act involves either:

(a)  Terrorism, animal terrorism or ecological terrorism that results or is intended to result in a risk of serious physical injury or death.

(b)  Any of the following acts if committed for financial gain:

(i)  Homicide.

(ii)  Robbery.

(iii)  Kidnapping.

(iv)  Forgery.

(v)  Theft.

(vi)  Bribery.

(vii)  Gambling.

(viii)  Usury.

(ix)  Extortion.

(x)  Extortionate extensions of credit.

(xi)  Prohibited drugs, marijuana or other prohibited chemicals or substances.

(xii)  Trafficking in explosives, weapons or stolen property.

(xiii)  Participating in a criminal syndicate.

(xiv)  Obstructing or hindering criminal investigations or prosecutions.

(xv)  Asserting false claims including, but not limited to, false claims asserted through fraud or arson.

(xvi)  Intentional or reckless false statements or publications concerning land for sale or lease or sale of subdivided lands or sale and mortgaging of unsubdivided lands.

(xvii)  Resale of realty with intent to defraud.

(xviii)  Intentional or reckless fraud in the purchase or sale of securities.

(xix)  Intentional or reckless sale of unregistered securities or real property securities.

(xx)  A scheme or artifice to defraud.

(xxi)  Obscenity.

(xxii)  Sexual exploitation of a minor.

(xxiii)  Prostitution.

(xxiv)  Restraint of trade or commerce in violation of section 34‑252.

(xxv)  Terrorism.

(xxvi)  Money laundering.

(xxvii)  Obscene or indecent telephone communications to minors for commercial purposes.

(xxviii)  Counterfeiting marks as proscribed in section 44‑1453.

(xxix)  Animal terrorism or ecological terrorism.

(xxx)  Smuggling of human beings.

(xxxi)  Child prostitution.

(xxxii)  Sex trafficking.

(xxxiii)  Trafficking of persons for forced labor or services.

5.  "Records" means any book, paper, writing, computer program, data, image or information that is collected, recorded, preserved or maintained in any form of storage medium.

6.  "Remedy racketeering" means to enter a civil judgment pursuant to this chapter or chapter 39 of this title against property or a person who is subject to liability, including liability for injury to the state that is caused by racketeering or by actions in concert with racketeering.

E.  For the purposes of sections 13‑2316, 13‑2316.01 and 13‑2316.02:

1.  "Access" means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, computer system or network.

2.  "Access device" means any card, token, code, account number, electronic serial number, mobile or personal identification number, password, encryption key, biometric identifier or other means of account access, including a canceled or revoked access device, that can be used alone or in conjunction with another access device to obtain money, goods, services, computer or network access or any other thing of value or that can be used to initiate a transfer of any thing of value.

3.  "Computer" means an electronic device that performs logic, arithmetic or memory functions by the manipulations of electronic or magnetic impulses and includes all input, output, processing, storage, software or communication facilities that are connected or related to such a device in a system or network.

4.  "Computer contaminant" means any set of computer instructions that is designed to modify, damage, destroy, record or transmit information within a computer, computer system or network without the intent or permission of the owner of the information, computer system or network.  Computer contaminant includes a group of computer instructions, such as viruses or worms, that is self‑replicating or self‑propagating and that is designed to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, to consume computer resources, to modify, destroy, record or transmit data or in some other fashion to usurp the normal operation of the computer, computer system or network.

5.  "Computer program" means a series of instructions or statements, in a form acceptable to a computer, that permits the functioning of a computer system in a manner designed to provide appropriate products from the computer system.

6.  "Computer software" means a set of computer programs, procedures and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a computer system.

7.  "Computer system" means a set of related, connected or unconnected computer equipment, devices and software, including storage, media and peripheral devices.

8.  "Critical infrastructure resource" means any computer or communications system or network that is involved in providing services necessary to ensure or protect the public health, safety or welfare, including services that are provided by any of the following:

(a)  Medical personnel and institutions.

(b)  Emergency services agencies.

(c)  Public and private utilities, including water, power, communications and transportation services.

(d)  Fire departments, districts or volunteer organizations.

(e)  Law enforcement agencies.

(f)  Financial institutions.

(g)  Public educational institutions.

(h)  Government agencies.

9.  "False or fraudulent pretense" means the unauthorized use of an access device or the use of an access device to exceed authorized access.

10.  "Financial instrument" means any check, draft, money order, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit card or marketable security or any other written instrument as defined in section 13‑2001 that is transferable for value.

11.  "Network" includes a complex of interconnected computer or communication systems of any type.

12.  "Property" means financial instruments, information, including electronically produced data, computer software and programs in either machine or human readable form, and anything of value, tangible or intangible.

13.  "Proprietary or confidential computer security information" means information about a particular computer, computer system or network that relates to its access devices, security practices, methods and systems, architecture, communications facilities, encryption methods and system vulnerabilities and that is not made available to the public by its owner or operator.

14.  "Services" includes computer time, data processing, storage functions and all types of communication functions. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.  Section 13-3212, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-3212.  Child prostitution; classification; increased punishment

A.  A person commits child prostitution by knowingly:

1.  Causing any minor to engage in prostitution.

2.  Using any minor for the purposes of prostitution.

3.  Permitting a minor who is under the person's custody or control to engage in prostitution.

4.  Receiving any benefit for or on account of procuring or placing a minor in any place or in the charge or custody of any person for the purpose of prostitution.

5.  Receiving any benefit pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution of a minor.

6.  Financing, managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, prostitution activity involving a minor.

7.  Transporting or financing the transportation of any minor with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution.

B.  A person who is at least eighteen years of age commits child prostitution by knowingly:

1.  Engaging in prostitution with a minor who is under fifteen years of age.

2.  Engaging in prostitution with a minor who the person knows or should have known is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age.

3.  Engaging in prostitution with a minor who is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age.

C.  It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection A and subsection B, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section that the other person is a peace officer posing as a minor or a person assisting a peace officer posing as a minor.

D.  Notwithstanding any other law, a sentence imposed on a person for a violation of subsection A or subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section involving a minor who is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age shall be consecutive to any other sentence imposed on the person at any time.

E.  Child prostitution pursuant to subsection A of this section is a class 2 felony if the minor is under fifteen years of age and is punishable pursuant to section 13‑705.

F.  Child prostitution pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section is a class 2 felony and is punishable pursuant to section 13‑705.

G.  If the minor is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, child prostitution pursuant to subsection A of this section is a class 2 felony, the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31‑233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted.  The presumptive term may be aggravated or mitigated within the range under this section pursuant to section 13‑701, subsections C, D and E.  The terms are as follows:

1.  The term for a first offense is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

10 years                13.5 years                 24 years

2.  The term for a defendant who has one historical prior felony conviction is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

17 years                24 years                   31 years

3.  The term for a defendant who has two or more historical prior felony convictions is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

24 years                31 years                   38 years

G. H.  If the minor is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, child prostitution pursuant to subsection A and subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 2 felony, the person convicted shall be sentenced pursuant to this section and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31‑233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted.  The presumptive term may be aggravated or mitigated within the range under this section pursuant to section 13‑701, subsections C, D and E.  The terms are as follows:

1.  The term for a first offense is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

7 years                 10.5 years                 21 years

2.  The term for a defendant who has one historical prior felony conviction for a violation of this section is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

14 years                15.75 years                28 years

3.  The term for a defendant who has two or more historical prior felony convictions for a violation of this section is as follows:

Minimum                 Presumptive                Maximum

21 years                28 years                   35 years

H.  I.  Child prostitution pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 6 felony.  If the court sentences the person to a term of probation, the court shall order that as an initial term of probation the person be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than one hundred eighty consecutive days.  This jail term shall commence on the date of sentencing.  The court may suspend ninety days of the jail sentence if the person has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, a violation of section 13‑3214 or a violation of any city or town ordinance that prohibits prostitution and that has the same or substantially similar elements as section 13‑3214 and the person successfully completes an appropriate court ordered education or treatment program.

I.  J.  Nothing in This section precludes does not preclude the state from alleging and proving any other sentencing enhancements as provided by law. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4.  Section 13-3214, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-3214.  Prostitution; classification

A.  It is unlawful for a person to knowingly engage in prostitution.

B.  This section does not prohibit cities or towns from enacting and enforcing ordinances to suppress and prohibit prostitution that provide a punishment for misdemeanor violations that is at least as stringent as provided in this section.

C.  For the purposes of sentencing under this section, a previous violation of any city or town ordinance that prohibits prostitution and that has the same or substantially similar elements as this section shall be deemed to be a previous violation of this section.

D.  It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant committed the acts constituting prostitution as a direct result of being a victim of sex trafficking.

D.  E.  A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor, except that:

1.  A person who is convicted of a first violation of this section shall be sentenced to serve not less than fifteen consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence until the entire sentence is served.

2.  A person who is convicted of a second violation of this section shall be sentenced to serve not less than thirty consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence until the entire sentence is served.

3.  A person who is convicted of a third violation of this section shall be sentenced to serve not less than sixty consecutive days in jail, is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence until the entire sentence is served and shall complete an appropriate court ordered education or treatment program.

4.  A person who has previously been convicted of three or more violations of this section and who commits a subsequent violation of this section is guilty of a class 5 felony, shall be sentenced to serve not less than one hundred eighty consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence until the entire sentence is served.  This paragraph does not prohibit a person from being sentenced to serve a period of incarceration in the state department of corrections. END_STATUTE