Ron DeSantis OKs legislative crackdown on human trafficking

sex trafficking
“Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking."

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation aiming to curb human trafficking in the state by increasing training of law enforcement and hospitality workers, as well as setting up a database of pimps and individuals who solicit prostitutes.

“This law sends a powerful message to traffickers and pimps: the State of Florida is CLOSED for business,” said Sen. Lauren Book, who authored the Senate version of the legislation (SB 540).

“When we curb the demand for the illegal sale and purchase of sex, we also curb the profitability of human trafficking — and take a stand against the enslavement of men, women and children in communities across our state. This victory belongs to the incredibly brave survivors who shared the worst moments of their lives to make sure change was able to happen for others.”

DeSantis ultimately signed the House version of the bill (HB 851), which morphed to closely match Book’s version. Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen was behind the House effort.

Stats from the state Department of Health show Florida has the third-highest trafficking numbers in the country. In a floor discussion of the legislation, Book highlighted the four goals of the bill:

— First, the measure establishes a direct support organization for trafficking survivors to be set up by the Department of Legal Affairs.

— Second, the bill beefs up training for three groups. Members of law enforcement will be trained to better identify and aid victims of human trafficking.

Hotel workers will similarly receive instruction on how to spot potential victims, as they are often trafficked in hotels. Finally, the measure aims to train licensed medical professionals, who can sometimes treat injuries suffered as a result of trafficking.

The version ultimately approved by both chambers spells out the licenses which now require a one-hour continuing education course on the issue.

— Third, the bill applies several measures dealing with massage parlors first offered in the House bill. For instance, license applications to open a new facility will be denied if the owner or operator of the facility has pleaded guilty to prostitution or related acts.

— Finally, an at-times controversial portion of the bill was revived, as a database of pimps as well as those who solicit prostitutes was included in the version of the bill passed by the Senate.

That portion had been removed after several sex worker-advocates spoke out against the provision, worrying it would hurt sex workers.

“The clients who aren’t violent and don’t want any part of trafficking may be discouraged by being put on a registry,” argued Christine Hanavan, who works with the Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP) Behind Bars.

“But the ones who traffic, assault, rape and kill are not.”

Book cautioned the database was necessary to help reduce the demand for prostitution, thus cutting down on the supply.

“This is already public information and it will be removed after five years unless there is a subsequent offense, and at that time, they will be permanently on this database,” Book said.

“This database does not have with it any registry components, as you may think of with a sex offender registry. Those do not exist.”

And other survivors of sexual abuse backed the bill.

“When I was a child suffering in silence, I could never have dreamed to have an advocate like Sen. Book or Gov. DeSantis,” said Savannah Parvu, a trafficking survivor from Lake County.

“I was trafficked out of hotel rooms … men would pay as little as $10 to do whatever they wanted to me. Being a part of the process for change has been an important part of my healing process – I know what happened to me is in the past, but this law will now prevent it from happening to other people.”

DeSantis also offered a statement defending the importance of the law: “Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and those who allow it to thrive in the shadows,” DeSantis said.

“I am proud to sign this important piece of legislation into law, and I thank Sen. Book for ensuring its passage through the legislature.”

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


2 comments

  • John Andrew Kociuba

    June 28, 2019 at 7:52 am

    Homosecuals rape 3× number of children than Hetrosexuals per population capita. Indeed this is why degradation of Boy Scouts, Catholicism have suffered. Pedophilia cults sex trafficking kids is big money! Why hasn’t LBGTQP been mentioned?

    • MZZZ INFOOOOOOOO

      June 28, 2019 at 4:26 pm

      Homophobic much? Here’s why: b/c issues like this don’t need to be politicized. what are you going to do, John Andrew Kociuba – incriminate LGBTQ commnunity? Ban then from catholic church? SHeesh.

      That’s smart. instead of Target traffickers, lets just make this about the LGBTQ communitty — but if you take that route — people will NEVVVERRRR listen to you!!!!

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories