Sen. Mike Padden’s comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation is headed for a place in Washington state law. This afternoon the House of Representatives gave its unanimous support to Senate Bill 5669, as the Senate had done last month, which completes the Legislature’s work on the measure.

“This is one of the most important bills to come out of the Legislature this year,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “It strikes another blow at those who comprise a sordid industry that demeans human beings, especially young girls, by treating them as commodities to be sold into sexual slavery.

“Every time the traffickers find a hole in the law we need to patch it. Washington’s anti-trafficking laws are strong already; this bill would help make the state’s approach more of a model for the nation by treating sex trafficking as the separate crime it is.”

The changes Padden’s bill would make to state anti-trafficking laws include expanding the definition of “communication with a minor for immoral purposes” to cover the purchase or sale of commercial sex acts and sex trafficking; adding to the definition of first- and second-degree trafficking; and making the penalties for those who patronize child prostitutes stronger.

SB 5669 also would add trafficking and commercial sexual abuse of a child to the list of sex offenses that require sex-offender registration and the list of crimes that can trigger charges under the state’s criminal profiteering law.

The Legislature has moved into its second decade of battling human trafficking through changes to state law; the unanimous votes for his legislation this year remind Padden how the fight continues to unite lawmakers regardless of their views on other issues.

“It’s very likely we will be back next year and the year after that and so on with new legislation, because the sex-trafficking industry continues to evolve. For now, though, I’m glad to see this bill complete its legislative journey because it means we are continuing to push back,” Padden said.

The governor’s signature is not required to make SB 5669 law; however, Padden expects there will be a signing ceremony soon.