AB299

Existing law prohibits a customer from engaging in prostitution or solicitation for prostitution except in a licensed house of prostitution. Existing law provides that a customer who violates such a prohibition: (1) for a first offense that involves an adult, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months and by a fine of not less than $400 but not more than $1,000; (2) for a subsequent offense that involves an adult, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days and by certain minimum fines; and (3) for any offense, is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $200 per offense. Additionally, existing law provides for the automatic sealing of records if a person is discharged and the proceedings against the person are dismissed upon the fulfillment of the terms and conditions of a court-ordered program for the treatment of persons who solicit prostitution. (NRS 201.354) Section 1 of this bill: (1) requires a peace officer to arrest a person if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated such a prohibition; (2) increases the minimum fine for a first offense to not less than $800; (3) increases the civil penalty for any offense to $600; and (4) authorizes a person to petition the court 2 years after the person is discharged and the proceedings against the person are dismissed for the sealing of all records relating to the discharg