Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks before signing four bills designed to combat human trafficking during a news conference on Tuesday.Establishes civil action against traffickers and allows victims to recover damages from adult entertainment establishments
Requires prostitution and lewdness offenders to attend an educational program that will direct them away from traffickers and toward supportive resources “Some people that get forced into this, this kind of becomes all they know. Sometimes it’s hard to get out, even if they ultimately want to,” DeSantis said. “When you’re in those situations and you’re treated like that for a long time, you may not have anywhere to go.”Requires hotels to follow current human trafficking awareness laws and enhance protections for likeliest targets
Requires the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking to conduct a study and make recommendations regarding the regulation of adult safe houses, which provide housing and care to adult survivors of human trafficking“The wounds these victims bear are unique and traumatic,” DeSantis said. “Foster homes need to have appropriate tools in place to meet the moment.”
“If you violently force victims into trafficking in this state, you are going to pay a very stiff penalty,” DeSantis said. “We are taking action to strengthen penalties against the dangerous criminals who prey on these victims.”