SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL - Record No: CB 119808

• Record No: CB 119808
• Version: 1
• Council Bill No: CB 119808
• Type: Ordinance (Ord)
• Status: Passed
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: City Clerk
• On agenda: 6/22/2020
• Ordinance No: Ord 126099
• Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to the City's criminal code; removing the crime of prostitution loitering and associated references in the Seattle Municipal Code; amending Sections 12A.10.070 and 12A.10.100 and repealing Section 12A.10.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
• Sponsors: Andrew Lewis, Alex Pedersen, Tammy J. Morales
• Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Signed Ordinance 126099

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/26/2020	1	City Clerk	attested by City Clerk
6/26/2020	1	Mayor	returned
6/26/2020	1	Mayor	Signed
6/24/2020	1	City Clerk	submitted for Mayor's signature
6/22/2020	1	City Council	passed	Pass
6/15/2020	1	City Council	referred
6/12/2020	1	Council President's Office	sent for review
6/12/2020	1	City Clerk	sent for review

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the City's criminal code; removing the crime of prostitution loitering and associated references in the Seattle Municipal Code; amending Sections 12A.10.070 and 12A.10.100 and repealing Section 12A.10.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
body
WHEREAS, sex workers are a population that is at high risk of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, consisting largely of marginalized women; and
WHEREAS, this status has been recognized through characterization of sex workers involved in the criminal legal system as victim-defendants; and
WHEREAS, despite identification as a vulnerable population, research about similar ordinances in other jurisdictions has shown that these laws are enforced in an arbitrary and discriminatory way and have a disproportionate impact on women of color, both cis- and transgender; and
WHEREAS, involvement in the criminal legal system exacerbates already unmet needs; and
WHEREAS, the harms of arrest and incarceration exposes sex workers to physical and sexual harm as well as further trauma; and
WHEREAS, the understanding and recognition of sex work as a legitimate form of work is continually evolving; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, the Council passed Resolution 31637, creating a workgroup to examine how the City could assist formerly incarcerated persons "reenter" their communities; and
WHEREAS, the Reentry Workgroup released its final report in October 2018, which included seven strategies and recommendations to reduce barriers for people living with criminal history; and
WHEREAS, one of the strategies to reduce incarceration costs and system involvement is to decriminalize; and
WHEREAS, the Reentry Workgroup "recommends the City move away from reliance on the criminal legal system to address behaviors related to poverty, illness, and oppression..[and] aim to reduce the criminalization of poverty and the disproportionate representation of Blac...