§ 45-5-709 — Immunity Of Child -- Sex Therapy Participants

45-5-709 . Immunity of child -- sex therapy participants. (1) A person is not criminally liable or subject to proceedings under Title 41, chapter 5, for prostitution, sex trafficking or prior similar laws in effect at the time the act occurred, or other nonviolent offenses if the person was a child at the time of the offense and committed the offense as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking.
(2) A person who has engaged in commercial sexual activity is not criminally liable or subject to proceedings under Title 41, chapter 5, for prostitution if the person was a child at the time of the offense.
(3) A child who under subsection (1) or (2) is not subject to criminal liability or proceedings under Title 41, chapter 5, is presumed to be a youth in need of care under Title 41, chapter 3, and is entitled to specialized services and care, which may include access to protective shelter, food, clothing, medical care, counseling, and crisis intervention services, if appropriate.
(4) Subsections (1) through (3) do not apply in a prosecution under 45-5-601 or a proceeding under Title 41, chapter 5, for patronizing a prostitute.
(5) It is not a violation of this part for a person with an impaired physical ability, physical dysfunction, recent injury, or other disability to engage in sex therapy with a partner surrogate who is working under the supervision of a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or clinical professional counselor licensed under Title 37, chapter 39.

Legislative History

En. Sec. 9, Ch. 285, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 308, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 468, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 167, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 713, L. 2023.