Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills to combat human trafficking, raise awareness of the signs and impacts of human trafficking, and impose critical reforms to hold human traffickers accountable in Florida.
“Today, I am signing this legislation to better protect vulnerable children, ensure businesses are taking steps to identify and eliminate trafficking and to give victims a way to fight back against their abusers,” DeSantis said Thursday.
Here’s a synopsis of the bills: Senate Bill 7064 establishes a civil action for victims of human trafficking against traffickers and provides that victims can recover damages and attorney’s fees from adult entertainment establishments; allows seized property from a human trafficker to be sold and proceeds be paid as restitution to victims; requires adult establishments to verify the identity and ages of all employees and establishing a third-degree felony for owners or operators of adult establishments that do not retain such records.
Senate Bill 1690 expands human trafficking awareness programs and increases human trafficking victim support by cracking down on repeat violators of human trafficking awareness requirements by shortening the cure period for an initial violation from 90 days to 45 days and imposing daily fines for any subsequent violation, and ensures security measures for safe houses and safe foster homes. That includes detection of possible trafficking activity, coordination with law enforcement, and emergency response plans to search for absent or missing children.
House Bill 1465’s provisions include making human traffickers eligible for mandatory minimum sentences when they possess or discharge a firearm during the course of their crimes.
And, Senate Bill 1210 provides that a petition for human trafficking victim expunction (removing any charge from their record) and all pleadings and documents related to the petition are confidential and exempt from public records requirements.
