The bill enhances two felony penalties for attempting to hire a minor to engage in prostitution to include cases where the offender reasonably believed the victim was a certain age.

Section 1, subdivision 1, paragraph (a) expands the 20-year felony for hiring, offering, or agreeing to hire an individual under the age of 13 years for sexual penetration or contact to include cases where the offender reasonably believed the victim was under 13 years old.

Paragraph (b) expands the ten-year felony for hiring, offering, or agreeing to hire an individual under the age of 16 but at least 13 to engage in sexual penetration or contact to include cases where the offender reasonably believed the victim was under the age of 16, but at least 13.

Paragraph (c) is a technical amendment which maintains the current five-year felony for hiring, offering, or agreeing to hire an individual where the offender reasonably believed the victim was under the age of 18, but at least 16 years old.

The bill has an effective date of August 1, 2016, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.