State Rep. Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) is co-sponsoring a bill that would decriminalize people in prostitution and eliminate past prostitution convictions in Massachusetts.

Keefe said the bill creates a path out of prostitution and offers and alternative to being incarcerated. She said she knows it might be hard for some people to grasp, but learning more about how the state can help victims might help people understand the bill.

"If you're not familiar with these situations, then you have to learn," Keefe said. "You have to really listen, you have to have an understanding of how the whole thing works. But if you can, for the most part our society and people in general are very generous and we want to give people another chance to be healthy, strong and productive."

State Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Worcester) said while society is starting to reevaluate the norm, sometimes for the better, this legislation is not the case and would not help protect women.

"Prostitution is not legal and I don't think it should be," Fattman said. "I think if we are going to protect women, especially from violence it shouldn't be - there is a lot of violence in that industry, a lot of drug use in that industry, and it would be unfortunate to take that and legalize it."

Keefe said the bill was made possible by grassroot efforts in Worcester with the Living in Freedom Together nonprofit. The Worcester City Council has fully supported the bill.