Florida Senate - 2024 SB 502



By Senator Stewart





17-00331A-24 2024502__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to human trafficking; amending s.
3 787.29, F.S.; requiring the employer at an athletic
4 venue, an entertainment venue, or a convention center
5 with a certain capacity to display a human trafficking
6 public awareness sign in a conspicuous location that
7 is clearly visible to the public and employees;
8 defining the term “entertainment venue”; authorizing
9 sheriffs to identify locations within specified
10 establishments which are appropriate for the display
11 of public awareness signs and to post such signs as
12 they deem appropriate; making technical changes;
13 amending s. 943.17297, F.S.; increasing the number of
14 training hours in identifying and investigating human
15 trafficking which each certified law enforcement
16 officer must successfully complete as part of
17 specified training; providing an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Section 787.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to
22 read:
23 787.29 Human trafficking public awareness signs.—
24 (1) The Department of Transportation shall display a public
25 awareness sign developed under this section subsection (4) in
26 every rest area, turnpike service plaza, weigh station, primary
27 airport, passenger rail station, and welcome center in the state
28 which is open to the public.
29 (2) Emergency rooms shall display a public awareness sign
30 developed under this section subsection (4) in the emergency
31 rooms at general acute care hospitals.
32 (3)(a) The employer at each of the following establishments
33 shall display a public awareness sign developed under this
34 section subsection (4) in a conspicuous location that is clearly
35 visible to the public and employees of the establishment:
36 1. A strip club or other adult entertainment establishment.
37 2. A business or establishment that offers massage or
38 bodywork services for compensation and that is not owned by a
39 health care practitioner regulated pursuant to chapter 456 and
40 defined in s. 456.001.
41 3. An athletic venue, an entertainment venue, or a
42 convention center, any of which is capable of accommodating
43 5,000 or more persons. As used in this subparagraph, the term
44 “entertainment venue” means any public facility that offers
45 services or holds events, performances, or activities for
46 enjoyment or amusement and is used for commercial or industrial
47 purposes. The term does not include overnight lodging or casinos
48 but may include performing arts centers, arenas, racetracks,
49 coliseums, auditoriums, theme or amusement parks, museums,
50 cultural complexes, or other similar facilities.
51 (b) The county commission may adopt an ordinance to enforce
52 this subsection. A violation of this subsection is a noncriminal
53 violation, and punishable by a fine only as provided in s.
54 775.083.
55 (4) Each sheriff may identify locations within
56 establishments identified in subsection (3) appropriate for the
57 display of a public awareness sign developed under this section
58 and may post such signs as he or she deems appropriate at such
59 establishments which are within his or her jurisdiction.
60 (5) The required public awareness sign must be at least 8.5
61 inches by 11 inches in size, must be printed in at least a 16
62 point type, and must state substantially the following in
63 English and Spanish:
64
65 “If you or someone you know is being forced to engage
66 in an activity and cannot leave—whether it is
67 prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work,
68 retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity
69 call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at
70 1-888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to
71 access help and services. Victims of slavery and human
72 trafficking are protected under United States and
73 Florida law.”
74 Section 2. Section 943.17297, Florida Statutes, is amended
75 to read:
76 943.17297 Training in identifying and investigating human
77 trafficking.—Each certified law enforcement officer must
78 successfully complete 8 4 hours of training in identifying and
79 investigating human trafficking as part of the basic recruit
80 training of the officer required in s. 943.13(9) or additional
81 training required in s. 943.131(4). The training must be
82 developed by the commission in consultation with the Department
83 of Legal Affairs and the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.
84 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
S 502 Filed: 787.29, 943.17297