Bill Overview
Title: SAFE SEX Workers Study Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to study the impacts of the reduction in access to certain websites and other interactive computer services resulting from the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 on individuals engaged in adult, consensual sex work. Specifically, HHS must study the impacts of the reduction on the health and safety of individuals engaged in transactional sex while DOJ must study the impacts of the reduction on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
Sponsors: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals engaged in adult, consensual sex work
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill studies the impact on individuals engaged in consensual adult sex work.
- It focuses on the impacts of reduced access to certain websites due to the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017.
- Consensual adult sex workers are directly impacted as their access to online platforms for work has been limited.
- The legislation will analyze both health and safety of these individuals, therefore they are the target population.
Reasoning
- The population targeted includes individuals engaged mainly in adult consensual sex work, directly impacted by reduced access to online platforms following SESTA/FOSTA. The target population in the US is estimated around 1,000,000 people, within a broader global context estimate.
- The population distribution considers those who continue to face challenges in their work environment due to the removal of certain online platforms, which were avenues for safer operations.
- Since the policy aims to study these impacts, it addresses individuals who experienced shifts in their means of employment, safety, and wellbeing due to legislative changes.
- The budget constraints ($7M in year 1 and $13M over 10 years) indicate the study's scope might be broad in initial stages with extensive data collection efforts, sufficient to cover a range of categories representing consensual adult sex workers.
- The interviews aim to capture a diverse range of experiences and predictions of changes in wellbeing scores, considering different personal circumstances and demographic factors.
Simulated Interviews
Independent Sex Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With fewer platforms to find clients safely, I've had to take greater risks on the street.
- I hope this study leads to an understanding of how legislation sometimes negatively affects our safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Escort (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The change has made it harder to vet clients, increasing the risk.
- A study might bring about new discussions on supporting our rights and safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Sex Worker and Activist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safety is compromised, and public misinformation is rampant.
- This study could be pivotal for policy adjustments in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Sex Worker and Mother (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My fear is losing everything, including custody, due to work's illegal status.
- If studies lead to safer practices or legal reform, I will be hopeful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Online Content Creator and Sex Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Income fluctuated with fewer online tools available for client engagement.
- Studies like this can inform better resource distribution for online work safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Street-based Sex Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Lack of online platforms forces into worse safety conditions.
- This review could offer awareness and help the future of our work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Part-time Sex Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing work has become tougher due to less reliable means of client acquisition.
- I see potential in studies that lead to integration of safer options for sex workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Independent Escort and Massage Therapist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing online channels cuts off not just clients but professional networks.
- If this study helps modify our legal environment, it'd be significant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Brothel Worker (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For someone working legally, reduced online platforms haven't been personally affecting.
- However, I think understanding from the study might help streamline even legal processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Full-time Sex Worker (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- After these changes, my wellbeing took a hit, and more so mentally than financially initially.
- Hope the study reaches to policymakers and starts conversations to better sex worker conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $9000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Coordination between HHS and DOJ is crucial for comprehensive outcomes.
- Public and political sensitivity surrounding the topic might affect the study's conduct and publication.
- Findings might inform changes in existing laws or regulations concerning sex workers and online platforms.