DeSantis signs round of anti-human trafficking bills

LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a package of anti-human trafficking legislation Tuesday. 

SB 7064 establishes a civil action against traffickers and allows victims to recover damages from adult entertainment establishments. 

“It’s going to serve as a deterrent for some of those people knowing that now they can be liable in a more direct way financially,” DeSantis said. 

The legislation also allows human trafficking victims to receive restitution from their trafficker’s seized property. 

He explained that it increases penalties for adult entertainment establishments that exploit minors from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony. 

The legislation requires prostitution offenders attend an educational program that will direct them away from traffickers and towards supportive resources, according to the governor.

“Also, every officer when recruited to serve in law enforcement will be required to receive four hours of training in identifying and investigating human trafficking,” DeSantis said. 

Another bill, SB 1690, increases penalties for hotels that ban human trafficking laws. This will require hotels to follow current human trafficking awareness laws, and to enhance protection for the likeliest targets, young children. 

“I think that will be something that will really, really light a fire,” DeSantis said. “And we’ll make sure that these establishments are taking this responsibility more seriously.”

Under the legislation, children’s safe houses would need to have enhanced security. He said it requires safe houses and foster homes to have age-appropriate programming that will help kids identify the signs and understand the dangers of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. 

“The wounds these victims bear are unique and are traumatic foster homes in safe houses need to have appropriate tools in place to meet the moment,” DeSantis said. 

Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, D-Davie, expressed her support, specifically for SB 1690.

“I am proud of our bipartisan work to combat the horrific realities of human trafficking, a crime which takes place hidden in plain sight in every single community across the state,” Book said.

“With the help of Senators Ingoglia and Garcia, we have now closed loopholes in Florida law that have allowed hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments to avoid paying fines for noncompliance with signage and training requirements designed to help combat this horrific crime,” she explained.

HB 1465 aims to strengthen penalties for the criminals who prey on victims. Human traffickers could be eligible for mandatory minimum sentences if they possess or discharge a firearm during the course of their human trafficking crime. 

“So if you violently force victims into trafficking in this state, you are going to pay a very, very stiff penalty,” DeSantis said. “So all in all, this is a very strong package of bills.”

On top of this, SB 1210 allows for a petition for human trafficking victim expunction to be exempt from public records requirements, along with pleadings and documents related to the petition.