A Georgia lawmaker wants child victims of sex trafficking to be immune from prosecution.

State Sen. Renee Unterman of Buford says she pre-filed the bill last week and is working with prosecutors' associations on their concerns. The bill follows Georgia's 2011 effort to crack down on human trafficking using stricter punishment for offenders.

Unterman says anyone under the age of 18 deserves a chance to get help and should not be punished. She says critics may claim the bill legalizes prostitution but says it punishes the "real criminals."

It also would create a fund to help victims pay for health care, housing and other services. An appointed commission would manage that effort. Higher fines for people convicted of human trafficking would go into the fund.

Tags: Senator Renee S Unterman, human sex trafficking, trafficking bill, georgia senator backs sex trafficking immunity bill, renee unterman advocates bill to keep sex trafficking victims from being charged, 2011 sex trafficking bill signed by Nathan Deal