Pennsylvania § 3027 - Promoting prostitution.

§ 3027. Promoting prostitution.

(a) Offense defined.--A person who knowingly promotes prostitution of another commits a misdemeanor or felony as provided under subsection (c). The following acts shall constitute promoting prostitution:

(1) owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with others, a prostitution business;

(2) (Reserved);

(3) encouraging, inducing or otherwise intentionally causing another to become or remain a person in prostitution;

(4) except for a prostituted person or the prostituted person's minor child or other legal dependent incapable of self-support, knowingly being supported in whole or substantial part by the proceeds of prostitution;

(5) soliciting a person to patronize a person in prostitution;

(6) procuring a person in prostitution for a patron;

(7) transporting an individual into or within this Commonwealth with intent to promote the engaging in prostitution by that individual or procuring or paying for transportation with that intent;

(8) leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution or the promotion of prostitution, or failure to make reasonable effort to abate the use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities or other legally available means; or

(9) soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive any benefit for doing or agreeing to do anything forbidden by this subsection.

(b) Promoting prostitution of minor.--A person is guilty of an offense if the person knowingly promotes prostitution of a minor. The following acts shall constitute promoting prostitution of a minor:

(1) owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business in which a victim is a minor;

(2) procuring a person in prostitution who is a minor;

(3) encouraging, inducing or otherwise intentionally causing a minor to become or remain a person in prostitution;

(4) soliciting a minor to patronize a person in prostitution;

(5) procuring a person in prostitution who is a minor for a patron;

(6) transporting a minor into or within this Commonwealth with intent to promote the engaging in prostitution by that minor, or procuring or paying for transportation with that intent;

(7) leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution of a minor or the promotion of prostitution of a minor, or failure to make reasonable effort to abate the use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities or other legally available means; or

(8) soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive any benefit for doing or agreeing to do anything forbidden by this subsection.

(c) Grading.--

(1) The following apply to offenses committed under subsection (a):

(i) An offense constitutes a felony of the third degree if:

(A) the offense falls under subsection (a)(1), (3) or (4);

(B) the actor compels another to engage in or promote prostitution;

(C) the actor promotes prostitution of the person's spouse, child, ward or any person for whose care, protection or support the person is responsible; or

(D) the actor commits a third or subsequent offense under subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), (8) or (9).

(ii) An offense constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree if the offense is a first offense under subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), (8) or (9).

(iii) An offense constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree if the offense is a second offense under subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), (8) or (9).

(2) An offense committed under subsection (b) constitutes a felony of the first degree.

(3) If an offense under subsection (a) or (b) is not provided for under paragraph (1) or (2), the offense shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(July 20, 2026, P.L.492, No.41, eff. 60 days)

2026 Amendment. Act 41 added section 3027.

Cross References. Section 3027 is referred to in section 6303 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); section 9799.14 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 2303 of Title 44 (Law and Justice); section 7122 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole); section 3113 of Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)).