Paulin Passes Bill to Close Sex Trafficking Loophole

Advocates for victims of Jeffrey Epstein applauded State Assemblymember Amy Paulin for her work to pass legislation to protect 15-17 year olds from sex trafficking. The new legislation, which was passed in the final hours of this year's legislative session, is designed to strengthen penalties for adults who solicit children under 18 for prostitution. The Victims Protection and Child Sex Buyer Accountability Act closes a critical loophole and brings New York in line with other states and federal law.

"I'm grateful to Assemblywoman Paulin for partnering with me to ensure buyers and sex traffickers face full accountability for their crimes against young people," said Senator Zellnor Myrie. "For too long, New York's penal law has left vulnerable young people unprotected- especially Black and brown young women who are often victimized twice: once by their abuser, and again by a system that fails to recognize their vulnerability. This legal inconsistency must end, and I look forward to continuing our fight for justice for survivors and accountability for their abusers."

"The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have brought attention to a loophole that undermined accountability for adults who exploit minors," said Assemblywoman Paulin. "Their advocacy made clear that New York's laws must better reflect the reality that all individuals under 18 are vulnerable to exploitation and deserving of protection. This legislation closes that loophole, strengthens our efforts to combat trafficking, and ensures that those who target children for sexual exploitation face appropriate consequences."

“This bill helps ensure that those who target minors for sex and enable trafficking are held accountable," said Rebecca Zipkin, Policy Director of World Without Exploitation. "To prevent exploitation, we must focus on the predators and buyers who create the demand and make abuse possible—including those, like the individuals in Jeffrey Epstein’s network, who preyed on vulnerable young people with impunity. We are deeply grateful to State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Amy Paulin for closing this dangerous loophole and bringing New York in line with the rest of the country. This is a meaningful victory for survivors everywhere.”

Under current law, adults who pay for sex with 15-, 16-, or 17-year-olds do not face felony charges. This loophole makes it nearly impossible to hold adults who are buying 15- to 17- year-olds for sex accountable for their actions. This legislation would ensure that all minors under eighteen are fully covered by prostitution-related statutes, helping to eliminate "adultification bias"—the tendency to see children of color in particular as older or less innocent. The legislation would also give police and prosecutors clearer tools to go after online exploitation and trafficking.