Minnesota, North Dakota lawmakers renew sex trafficking bill

Democratic U.S. senators from Minnesota and North Dakota are reintroducing bipartisan legislation in an effort to crack down on sex trafficking across the country.

The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act is modeled after Minnesota's "Safe Harbor" law, which protects sex trafficking victims from being prosecuted as defendants. Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota say the bill would allow prosecutors to better handle minor sex trafficking cases and provide support to victims.

The bill seeks to establish a national strategy to combat human trafficking.

The legislation also was introduced by Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Mark Kirk of Illinois.

It's supported by at least six national organizations, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Fraternal Order of Police.