SW News: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills to fight human trafficking in the state on Tuesday.
The move helps to raise awareness of the impacts of human trafficking and impose critical reforms to hold human traffickers accountable.
DeSantis said he wants to use every tool at his disposal to put human traffickers out of business. The new regulations specify a required minimum penalty if a human trafficker discharges a firearm and stiffens the punishment for individuals who prey on victims of human trafficking. Another rule permits victims of human trafficking to sue adult entertainment venues for damages, and it mandates that hotels abide by human trafficking awareness regulations or face daily fines of thousands of dollars.
The governor said last year the US saw a 50% increase in arrests for human trafficking and 72% of all human trafficking victims came into the country illegally.
He said that Biden’s Border Crisis is exacerbating human trafficking across the nation —72% of all human trafficking victims are illegal immigrants and 60% of unaccompanied alien children crossing the border were caught by cartels and exploited for drug trafficking, or worse.
“While the federal government continues to ignore the people that are suffering due to its failed policies, Florida continues to act. Today, I am signing this legislation to better protect vulnerable children, ensure businesses are taking steps to identify and eliminate trafficking and give victims a way to fight back against their abusers,” the governor added.
Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7064, Human Trafficking, which supports victims of human trafficking and strengthens penalties for human traffickers.
He signed SB 1690, Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, which expands human trafficking awareness programs and increases human trafficking victim support.
Also signed was HB 1465 which, among other provisions, makes human traffickers eligible for mandatory minimum sentences when they possess or discharge a firearm during the course of their crimes.
The governor also signed SB 1210 which provides that a petition for human trafficking victim expunction and all pleadings and documents related to the petition are confidential and exempt from public records requirements.