A bipartisan group of lawmakers is reviving an effort to protect children from sexual exploitation by reintroducing a bill that would prohibit charging minors with prostitution. 

Gaining momentum has been a challenge for the proposal, as some elected officials have previously raised concerns that it would legalize prostitution or that it could lead to increased targeting of minors for sex trafficking. The bill’s authors stressed during a public hearing on Thursday that neither of those things is true. They also noted that each time the proposal — known as a “safe harbor” law — is reintroduced, it garners more support.

“Right now, if children fear they’re going to go into the criminal justice system, they’re not going to feel willing to reveal their (trafficking) perpetrators for fear of punishment,” said Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. “We need to protect them, get them to protective social services so they…