Senate Panel Approves HIV Prostitution Bill

A Senate committee approved a bill that would make it a third-degree felony for persons who know they are HIV-positive to work as prostitutes or to solicit sex workers.

Utah already tests arrested sex workers and their customers for HIV and informs them of their results.

SB 50, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Stevenson (R-Layton), would consider anyone who signs a notice of their test results to be aware of their status, thereby eliminating a requirement for a hearing with a police officer and a counselor. Declaring the offense a felony would put the defendant into the statewide court records system, rather than individual city courts.

Having won approval by the Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee, the bill moves to the full Senate.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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