A.G. Gancarski
A measure that proponents say is part of the larger fight against human trafficking seemed to be dead for 2024, but it’s alive as language in a bigger bill in the final days that passed the Senate by a 35-3 vote.
SB 796, which includes language from legislation from Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough and Republican Rep. Carolina Amesty to lift the age limit for performers and other employees of adult establishments from 18 to 21, was the basis for an amendment to the substituted House companion bill HB 7063. The House already passed that bill, but the amended legislation will need to return to the House for final passage.
Republican Sen. Bryan Avila said the change “simply puts the Senate bill on the House bill.”
Democrats raised concerns about the strip club language, but it was ultimately a moot point, as they said they’d support the bill anyway.
Sen. Bobby Powell wondered why the stripper language was added to the bill; Avila argued that adult entertainment clubs are hotbeds for human trafficking.
Yarborough, taking over for the bill sponsor, said he was “concerned” about those under the age of 21, suggesting “some clown” could “get a hold of her after work one evening and she’s unable to go home and never sees her kids again.”
Pressing for inconsistencies in the language, Sen. Jason Pizzo asked if filming pornography was legal under the new language. Yarborough said the bill didn’t speak to that question of what they might do as a “freelance performer.”
Pizzo noted that banning strip club performances could lead these same young people, now making upwards of $500 a night, into more dangerous situations.
He added that the language was motivated by Yarborough’s “ideological position,” and challenged Yarborough for an example of a strip club shut down for human trafficking purposes. Yarborough had no such examples or data.
“You’re saying no, you can’t do this,” Pizzo said. “But you’re not providing any other remedy.”
Sen Democratic Leader Lauren Book, who noted she had been to a strip club with Sen. Danny Burgess for research purposes, said that if these girls couldn’t perform, they might end up on “OnlyFans.”
“I have a problem with going after a predominantly female profession and disallowing adults from doing a job,” the Democratic Leader said, before noting she and others would vote for the amendment and the bill anyway.
The bills dealing with adult entertainment age limits had made progress in committees, but seemed doomed before they became riders to the larger anti-human trafficking bill extending the future repeal date of the direct-support organization for the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, revising the human trafficking hotline telephone number, and changing rules on vendors licensed under the Beverage Law.
The House bill did not get it on the Commerce agenda, and the Senate product was temporarily postponed in the Fiscal Policy committee before the amendment to the larger bill gave it new life as part of a larger product.
Under this legislation, owners would be 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 be enhanced to a second-degree felony penalty for the proprietors.
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.
12 comments
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
March 5, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Earl Pitts seen sobbing because he thinks the minimum age should be 12.
rick whitaker
March 5, 2024 at 4:12 pm
earl pedophile. the talk around the gainesville area earl lives in , is that ol’ earl prefers young boys, not girls. he likes his sphincter pounded in an obsessive and compulsive way. apparently he pays them good. the thoughts of him are sickening. that’s just the talk in the area, i don’t know any details.
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" American
March 5, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Thank you Rick for stepping in with your reply to the poster above your post. I was going to “Chastize that poster” but since you two geniouses are working together to get Earl and Rick’s names out there at “Top Of Mind” to all of our Beloved on-line Host, F. P.’s Sage Readership there will be no Painfull Chastizement” issued by ME, Earl Pitts American, you guys are the best !!
Rick there will be a little extra “Something Something Extra” in your pay envelope for making Employee of The Month for March, 2024.
Earl Pitts “Rick’s Humble Boss” American
*ps relax your sphincter*
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
March 5, 2024 at 10:18 pm
You rape kids. Hang yourself.
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" American
March 6, 2024 at 6:56 am
Good morn ‘Ting mis-guided citizen poster above,
I, Earl Pitts American, was going to cut you some slack because you appeared to be working with my Faithfull Employee Rick.
However it appears that you are just some rando annoying “Dook 4 Brains Lefty” and you are actually a danger to my Faithfull Employee Rick.
Therefor I, Earl Pitts American hereby issue a “Painfull Chastizement” to come raining down upon your fool head at sometime today after 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time in our Great Nation The USA.
First you will feel light-headed then bad things will start happening to you.
So you will likely want to leave work prior to Noon and lock yourself up in your house with the shades drawn. In addition I place you under a masturbation ban for the next 48 hours begining at Noon today.
DO BETTER HECEFORTH:
Earl Pitts American
*ps you are a bad influnce on my faithful employee Rick so stay away from Rick*
rick whitaker's
March 6, 2024 at 3:26 pm
WARNING TROLL POTTY HUMOR COMMENT BY EARL
Julia
March 5, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Earning $29,000. When you’re ready to give it some serious thought, start with some of the most respectable businesses that provide real work-from-home opportunities. In order to locate the ideal remote employment, ensure that the positions you apply for are affiliated with vc04 reputable businesses.
Look at this…………………………….. hardcashmachines03.blogspot.com
Valearia Wilson
March 5, 2024 at 6:22 pm
They’re to young to strip in clubs, BUT NOT TO YOUNG TO GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO FIGHT WARS, THAT THOSE OLD, DRIED UP CONGRESS, INITIATED TO KEEP EYES AWAY FROM WHAT THEY ARE ” REALLY ” UP TO CONCERNING OUR COUNTRY, OUR WELL-BEING AND SAFE
Joe The Plumber
March 5, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Earl that guy Rick is a great employee,
If he ever wants to step up to the big bucks working for the southeast’s largest plumbing contractor please let me know. I could really use a loyal employee like Rick.
Thank earl,Joe
rick whitaker's
March 6, 2024 at 3:23 pm
earl, the joe the plumber fake character is so lame. it suck being you, doesn’t it. an 82 year old punk, what a joke
Josh Green
March 5, 2024 at 10:20 pm
If you’re old enough for military service you’re old enough to twirl naked on a poll. Where is all this freedom Florida is supposed to have?
tayler kessler
March 6, 2024 at 12:56 am
Great idea idiots !! push these 18 to 20 year old girls right towards the very thing your trying to keep them from !! prostitution and porn !!!! If you were really interested in stopping human trafficking you would start a task force working hand an hand with adult clubs to save these girls ! political ASSCLOWNS
Comments are closed.