An effort in Oregon earlier in 2021 relating to prostitution, would have essentially legalized the practice, if HB 3088 hadn't stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.

Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland) was the chief sponsor of the bill which would have repealed the crimes of prostitution, commercial sexual solicitation and promoting prostitution. The measure takes away some of the protections for victims of sex trafficking.

For instance, ORS 167.007 -- part of the law proposed to be repealed -- says that "A person commits the crime of prostitution if the person engages in, or offers or agrees to engage in, sexual conduct or sexual contact in return for a fee." However, also proposed to be repealed is the language protecting victims. "It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the defendant, at the time of the alleged offense, was a victim of the crime of trafficking in persons."

Now, that effort is continuing through the state's initiative petition process.

Being called the "Sex Worker Rights Act" On November 16, 2021, the Elections Division received Initiative Petition 2022-042, proposed for the November 8, 2022, General Election.

To qualify for the ballot, Initiative Petition #42 will have to collect 112,020 valid signatures from Oregon voters.

Observers question whether this is perhaps not the best approach to dealing with Oregon's current problem with human trafficking, and it may be seen a continuing radical leftist agenda from the Kate Brown administration and super-majority Democrat party that may not be concerned with accountability if the results turn out to be a disaster.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-12-24 12:21:35

Last Update: 2021-12-24 14:11:35