Gov. Henry McMaster signed S.142 at a ceremony. The law creates the crime of child luring in South Carolina and also strengthens existing human trafficking laws.

“Protecting our children and victims of human trafficking is essential to building safe communities and allowing our state to continue to thrive,” McMaster said in the press release. “By enacting this legislation, we are not only defending our people but equipping our prosecutors and law enforcement with additional tools to ensure criminals are held accountable.”

Child luring refers to “adults who lure, entice, or attempt to lure a child with the intent to harm them,” the press release said. If someone is convicted of this felony, the criminal will face a fine of up to $10,000, serve a prison sentence of 10 years or both.

The law also expands the definition of sex trafficking to include sexual exploitation of a minor and the participation of the prostitution of a minor.

“The new law adds more protections for victims of human trafficking. Victims may now motion the court to expunge a non-violent offense stemming from trafficking if they were forced to commit the crime by their captor,” the press release said. “Further, the bill adds that a person under the age of eighteen who is a victim of human trafficking may not be prosecuted for prostitution or any other non-violent misdemeanor or class F felony.”

“We need to prevent victims from being prosecuted for crimes they committed because they were entangled in the human trafficking ring," Attorney General Alan Wilson said in the press release. "I am so grateful we brought in safe harbor to protect victims of human trafficking."

McMaster was joined at the ceremony by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, S.C.-01 Congressional Representative Nancy Mace and several members of the state legislature.