OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation designed to assist victims of human trafficking has been approved by the Oklahoma Senate.
The Senate approved two human trafficking bills Thursday and sent them to the state House for further action.
Each measure was approved without debate on separate 40-1 votes.
One bill authorizes authorities to dismiss prostitution charges against a child if an investigation shows the child is the victim of human trafficking or sexual abuse and was coerced. The other would allow sex trafficking victims to petition to have prostitution convictions removed from their records.
Federal officials say human trafficking in sex, agriculture, manufacturing and domestic work is a global industry, claiming an estimated 27 million victims including thousands in the United States.