By: Journalist Colin Udall (OSU)
Senator Plane (TU) in the Senate Chamber
Senate Bill TU-001, proposed by Senator Plane (TU), sought to establish and codify a licensing system by which the state of Oklahoma would oversee the safe practice of individual sex work. Guidelines in the bill include provisions: against organized sex work, against the knowing transmission of diseases and against trafficking. The bill failed in the Senate in a 10-11 vote.
Senator Plane (TU) spoke on the bill “My purpose…was not to promote sex work, but to acknowledge that it’s already taking place.” Senator Plane (TU) stated three main ways they say the necessary protections and regulations for public safety can be achieved “…prevention of human trafficking and sexual violence against sex workers, which they are disproportionately subject to and almost never receive justice for, prevent the spread of STDs in the state of Oklahoma by requiring that sex workers use barrier contraception every single time….and to promote tax revenue for the state.” Finally, when asked what their response to the opponency, who say that the bill does encourage sex work, Senator Plane (TU) said “I understand that this is to some people, an issue of morality, and while I understand that, I would urge opponents of the bill too think critically about the fact that sex workers are working in the state of Oklahoma, and they always have. There have always been sex workers everywhere. Regardless of whether or not it is criminal, there will always be people who are doing it.” The Senator concluded by stating that the legislature has a responsibility to sex workers, who are disproportionately women, to ensure they are not forced into these positions and that those who already are in these positions are not exploited and taken advantage of.
Senator Robison (OCU) opposed the bill in the vote. The proponency argued that the bill did not encourage sex work, to which Senator Robison (OCU) stated “It does encourage sex work.” “You could say that about any number of offenses that are currently criminal” the Senator said. Further, Senator Robison (OCU) spoke on voting on the interests of his constituents “I think it’s very important to keep in mind the motivations and interests of the people you are legislating for…I don’t need a census or a survey of Oklahomans to know that they would be against legalized prostitution.” Senator Robison (OCU) concluded stating that the bill came close to a tie, and further stating that the bill would likely have passed the House by a very long margin.
The bill, one of the more contentious of the day, saw some of the most engaging discussions in today’s Senate chambers.