A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee tackled two unusual bills.
The first bill requires “public awareness signs for human trafficking” to be displayed in “adult entertainment and massage/bodywork establishments.” The bill had gotten workshopped in a couple of public notice meetings, before making its way to committees this week in revised form. It passed Finance on Monday, and after this stop, would have to pass Rules ahead of a full Council hearing Tuesday.
“This is a bill that affects all of us, [and] our families,” said Hazouri, who added that signs may be posted on JTA and Greyhound buses.
“This will be a partnership of everybody,” Hazouri added.
The bill passed unanimously.
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The second bill changes code language regarding prohibited activities for sexual offenders and sexual predators. It clarifies the types of events and decorations from which sexual predators and offenders are barred, and offers clean up on a 2015 bill addressing the same issues.
After passing this committee, the bill likewise would be considered by Rules before the full Council considers it a week from now.
Jason Teal, from the General Counsel’s office, described the bill as amending the regulations.
“The city got sued in federal court by a registered sex offender who thought the language in the existing bill was too vague,” Teal said, saying the bill “clarifies what can and can’t be done,” regarding holiday decorations and event attendance.
The bill was intended originally to address Halloween participation, but Teal said it was interpreted as including a political rally, so the language was changed to “sexual predators cannot go to events that target non-familial children.”
Another change: the use of the word “entice” in 2015 language, which was held by that court as being ambiguous, so language was cleaned up in that.
A holiday display, meanwhile, was definitionally clarified. Additionally, adopted children are not counted as non-familial children.
“This is a way to resolve the issue,” Teal said, “and all parties are on board.
“Basically what it’s going to boil down to is [law enforcement] can do periodic checks,” Teal said, of members of the sexual predator list.
Many sexual offenders would, Teal said, “skirt the law” by going to church Trunk or Treat events, which the rewrite eliminates.
The bill, Teal added, gives the Sheriff’s Office parameters to guide their ongoing enforcement efforts.
The bill passed unanimously.
