{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "230.02", "citation": "Penal Law § 230.02", "heading": "Patronizing a person for prostitution; definitions", "text": ["§ 230.02 Patronizing a person for prostitution; definitions.", "1. A person patronizes a person for prostitution when:", "(a) Pursuant to a prior understanding, he or she pays a fee to another person as compensation for such person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her; or", "(b) He or she pays or agrees to pay a fee to another person pursuant to an understanding that in return therefor such person or a third person will engage in sexual conduct with him or her; or", "(c) He or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her in return for a fee.", "2. As used in this article, \"person who is patronized\" means the person with whom the defendant engaged in sexual conduct or was to have engaged in sexual conduct pursuant to the understanding, or the person who was solicited or requested by the defendant to engage in sexual conduct."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/230.02", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **(1)(a)** A person patronizes another for prostitution by, **under a prior understanding**, **paying a fee** to someone as compensation for that person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with the payer.\n- **(1)(b)** It also includes **paying or agreeing to pay a fee** under an understanding that the other person or a third person will engage in sexual conduct with the payer.\n- **(1)(c)** It also includes **soliciting or requesting** another person to engage in sexual conduct with the actor **in return for a fee**. ★\n- **(2)** The \"person who is patronized\" is the person who engaged or was to engage in sexual conduct with the defendant under the understanding, or the person the defendant solicited or requested.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/230.02", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}