A.G. Gancarski
A legislative push to keep people under the age of 21 from performing or working in adult entertainment venues has died in committee and will not be voted on by the Senate or House this year barring an extraordinary development.
The bills from Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough (SB 1690) and Republican Rep. Carolina Amesty (HB 1379) were envisioned as a way to curb the problem of human trafficking by raising the age limits from 18. But the House bill did not get it on the Commerce agenda, and the Senate product was temporarily postponed in Tuesday’s Fiscal Policy committee, essentially closing the path in both legislative bodies.
The legislation stipulated that owners would have been subject to first-degree misdemeanor charges regarding those under 21 working in the clubs and other adult establishments. If those under 21 dare to bare, the penalty would have been enhanced to a second-degree felony penalty for the proprietors.
The legislative push to end what sponsors called “modern-day slavery” saw amendments along the way in the House and Senate, but to no avail.
The bills did not completely align after a Senate amendment saying ignorance of an employee’s age is no defense against charges under this potential law, which would have affected adult bookstores, adult theaters, special cabaret locations and unlicensed massage establishments.
Outside of the Legislature, questions abounded about what the bill would actually do. A February Criminal Justice Estimating Impact Conference meeting found that they couldn’t guarantee the bill would subject any scofflaws to incarceration, tacitly raising questions about whether this high-profile slam of college girls stripping would accomplish anything other than punitive symbolism.
Analysts said “there just isn’t data right now” as to how this will impact prison beds, so the ultimate impact is considered to be “positive indeterminate” at this point.
While a committee bill analysis asserted “the state has a compelling interest in safeguarding the community and children from trafficking and sexual exploitation,” ultimately the Legislature couldn’t get it through this year.
4 comments
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" American
February 28, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Good evening Florida,
Darn I, Earl Pitts American, was ready to make millions in referral commissions from the Brazillan Butt-Lift Doctors by getting every 26 year old + stripper cured of career ending Butt Sag. This would extend their Stripping by a full 10 years.
It would have worked too ….. and saved Florida from the loss of Billions in tourist revenue as surveys prove 84.25% of all tourists come for the tight butts in our legendary Strip Clubs.
I, Earl Pitts American, blame Passadomo for this. First she $hits us out of Open Carry, then she $hitted us out of something else, and now she has cut into my retirement fishing shack dream house on the canal to the Gulf of Mexico.
Join me, Earl Pitts American, in prayer that Passadomo goes back to her baking, knitting, and squeezing her grandbabies chubby cheeks or whatever elderly grannies do.
‘Ole Gal’s costing Earl and his Beloved Son/Daughter Big Bucks …. darn we were ready to roll out our sage plan and Get Paid.
How will I explain this to my Beloved Son/Daughter?
We’ve Been Robbed Somebody Call The Po Po.
Thank you Florida,
Earl Pitts American
Dont Say FLA
February 29, 2024 at 9:29 am
It’s okay Pops I can go back to work on Chatter Beight
Dont Say FLA
February 29, 2024 at 8:21 am
What’s so special about being 21 years old that keeps people from being trafficked that doesn’t work for 18 year olds? Oh i know what it is – It’s being 18, 19, and 20 year old adults making their own decisions.
If potentially trafficked youths can’t make their own decisions until they’re 21, all that happens is the youngest trafficked folks become naive 21 year olds rather than naive 18 year olds.
Therefore, obviously, this bill was funded by [email protected] or somebody wanting to get their paws on some additional naive 18 year olds by limiting the options for who gets to exploit the naivety of youthful adulthood.
The Border
February 29, 2024 at 9:56 am
If G0P wanted to prevent trafficking and/or worker abuse, they’d have passed the border bill that gave them, in writing, everything they ever said they wanted for the border.
But the G0P did not pass that border bill. As evidenced by their own actions, they do not really want what they claim to want when it comes to the USA’s southern border.
Comments are closed.