1. 1. A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitution if he or she:

   1. (1) Pursuant to a prior understanding, gives something of value to another person as compensation for having engaged in sexual conduct with any person; or
   2. (2) Gives or agrees to give something of value to another person with the understanding that such person or another person will engage in sexual conduct with any person; or
   3. (3) Solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with any person in return for something of value.
2. 2. It shall not be a defense that the person believed that the individual he or she patronized for prostitution was eighteen years of age or older.
3. 3. The offense of patronizing prostitution is a class B misdemeanor, unless the individual who the person patronizes is less than eighteen years of age but older than fifteen years of age, in which case patronizing prostitution is a class E felony.

4. 4. The offense of patronizing prostitution is a class B felony if the individual who the person patronizes is fifteen years of age or younger. Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution of an individual for the offenses of:

   1. (1) Statutory rape in the first degree pursuant to section 566.032;
   2. (2) Statutory rape in the second degree pursuant to section 566.034;
   3. (3) Statutory sodomy in the first degree pursuant to section 566.062; or
   4. (4) Statutory sodomy in the second degree pursuant to section 566.064.

(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1487, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2018 S.B. 793, A.L. 2025 S.B. 43)