Gov. Jared Polis signs bill enhancing penalties for human trafficking in Colorado

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed a watered-down proposal that supporters say would strengthen Colorado's human trafficking laws. 

“This tough new law increases penalties for human trafficking and will make Colorado safer," Polis said. "This bipartisan bill brought together law enforcement experts, survivors, and victim advocates to keep Coloradans safer and crackdown on human trafficking."

Senate Bill 035 adds human trafficking of an adult or a minor for involuntary or sexual servitude to the list of "crimes of violence" in the statutes and specifies that mandatory sentences apply to them.  

The bill also extends the statute of limitations for human trafficking of an adult or a minor for the purpose of involuntary servitude and the trafficking of an adult for sexual servitude to 20 years. 

And in a case in which an accuser's identity is uncovered through DNA testing and the crime was reported within 10 years of the offense, the new law says there will be no statute of limitations.

The bill was substantially amended from its original version and supporters agreed to accept the changes as a compromise to ensure the bill's passage.

The bill also provides affirmative defense to victims of human trafficking for sexual servitude. Notably, the House took out the crime of violence enhancement language in the bill.

The measure was sponsored by Sens. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, House Majority Leader Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Assistant House Minority Leader Rep. Ty Winter, R-Trinidad.

Marianne Goodland contributed to this story.