On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave final approval to comprehensive anti-human trafficking legislation that would help limit a problem that DeSantis and other state leaders attribute to a porous southern border.
“We’ve never wavered in our commitment to being a state that upholds law and order, and we’re proud of the fact that we’ve always been supportive of law enforcement.
In his remarks at a news conference held in Lighthouse Point, DeSantis stated, “We’ve never wavered in the idea that people who commit crimes need to be held accountable.”
Senate Bill 1690, which was proposed by Senator Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican from Spring Hill, targets sexual exploitation and human trafficking. It requires residential treatment clinics for children and adolescents to put particular signage, and it requires the Department of Children and Families to adopt certain rules.
In addition, the bill requires the Department of Children and Families to adopt certain rules. Adult safehouses that offer treatment and housing to victims of human trafficking are required to obtain certification from the agency.
In addition, the measure mandates that the Services and Resources Committee of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking investigate the issue of human trafficking and provide recommendations based on the findings of that investigation.
The penalties for offenses involving human trafficking have been increased as a result of SB 7064, and under the new law, victims who have been trafficked by adult entertainment venues will be entitled to launch a civil action against the individuals or entities that were responsible for the trafficking.
In addition, the University of South Florida will compile a database in order to analyze the patterns that emerge. The legislation known as House Bill 1465 increases the penalty for violent traffickers, who are also subject to mandatory minimum prison sentences if they are in possession of a firearm.
The recently established database will have information contributed by law enforcement agencies about claims and investigations pertaining to trafficking.
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican from Naples, was also there. She expressed her gratitude to DeSantis for his leadership and referred to the most recent few years as a watershed moment for the passage of laws with significant meaning.
“We want to protect the victims. We are making sure to hold traffickers accountable…We want to keep on the right track,” Passidomo stated.
According to the Republican Speaker of the House Paul Renner of Palm Coast, the issue of human trafficking has become much more widespread due to the fact that the federal government is moving in the opposite way.
“We’ve got hundreds of human traffickers coming across our open border and thousands of new human trafficking victims, which is absolutely tragic. But here today with the governor’s leadership, we’re doing something about it,” Renner stated.
According to Attorney General Ashely Moody, one of the reasons that Florida is a favored area for human trafficking is because of the state’s burgeoning tourism economy and agriculture industry.
“Not a year has gone by that we have not strengthened or added laws in Florida to go after human traffickers and better protect victims,” Moody stated.
At least 250,000 unaccompanied youngsters have entered the United States since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, according to the statewide grand jury report impaneled by the Florida Supreme Court, which DeSantis also disclosed on Tuesday.
The Statewide Grand Jury impaneled by the Florida Supreme Court discovered that more than 250,000 unaccompanied minors entered the U.S. since Biden became president and stated in their report:
“The federal government is facilitating the forced migration, sale, and abuse of…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 16, 2023