Issues of sex trafficking continue to dominate the legislative imagination.  This has led to new revisions to Georgia's laws regarding Pimping, O.C.G.A. § 16-6-11, and Pandering, O.C.G.A. § 16-6-12.

A first offense under O.C.G.A. § 16-6-11 will be punished as a high and aggravated misdemeanor, with 72 hours minimum custody now required. Second and subsequent offenses will be charged as a felony with a penalty of not less than 1-10 years imprisonment.

A person convicted of any of the offenses in O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-9 through 16-6-12 in which involve the victim is under 16 years of age at the time of the offense will be charged as a felony. Such offenses carry 10-30 years imprisonment and a fine up to $100,000.

2019 – 2020 HB 281 / O.C.G.A. §§16-6-9 through 16-6-12

SB 158 further modified the laws relating to prostitution, pimping and related offenses.
It modified O.C.G.A. § 16-6-9 by making it explicit that prostitution can only be committed by a person 18 years of age or older.

It also modified the punishment provisions of most of the pimping and pandering offenses to increase charges to a felony level where the offense involves a person under the age of 18 years. In that case, it is punishable by 10-30 years and a fine of not more than $100,000.