F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 875 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to aiding unmarried minors; amending
3 ss. 984.085 and 985.731, F.S.; providing enhanced
4 criminal penalties for knowingly sheltering an
5 unmarried minor or aiding an unmarried minor runaway;
6 creating a presumption concerning knowledge of a
7 minor's age; providing a defense; providing an
8 effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Section 984.085, Florida Statutes, is amended
13 to read:
14 984.085 Sheltering unmarried minors; aiding unmarried
15 minor runaways; violations.—
16 (1)(a) A person who is not an authorized agent of the
17 Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Children and
18 Families may not knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more
19 than 24 hours without the consent of the minor's parent or
20 guardian or without notifying a law enforcement officer of the
21 minor's name and the fact that the minor is being provided
22 shelter.
23 (b) A person may not knowingly provide aid to an unmarried
24 minor who has run away from home without first contacting the
25 minor's parent or guardian or notifying a law enforcement
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 875 2024
26 officer. The aid prohibited under this paragraph includes
27 assisting the minor in obtaining shelter, such as hotel
28 lodgings.
29 (c) Proof that a person has not attained the age of 18
30 years creates the presumption that the defendant knew the
31 minor's age or acted in reckless disregard thereof.
32 (2) It is a defense that the defendant had reasonable
33 cause to believe that his or her action was necessary to
34 preserve the minor from danger to his or her welfare.
35 (3)(2) A person who violates this section commits a felony
36 misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
37 s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
38 Section 2. Section 985.731, Florida Statutes, is amended
39 to read:
40 985.731 Sheltering unmarried minors; aiding unmarried
41 minor runaways; violations.—
42 (1)(a) A person who is not an authorized agent of the
43 department or the Department of Children and Families may not
44 knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more than 24 hours
45 without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian or without
46 notifying a law enforcement officer of the minor's name and the
47 fact that the minor is being provided shelter.
48 (b) A person may not knowingly provide aid to an unmarried
49 minor who has run away from home without first contacting the
50 minor's parent or guardian or notifying a law enforcement
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 875 2024
51 officer. The aid prohibited under this paragraph includes
52 assisting the minor in obtaining shelter, such as hotel
53 lodgings.
54 (c) Proof that a person has not attained the age of 18
55 years creates the presumption that the defendant knew the
56 minor's age or acted in reckless disregard thereof.
57 (2) It is a defense that the defendant had reasonable
58 cause to believe that his or her action was necessary to
59 preserve the minor from danger to his or her welfare.
60 (3)(2) A person who violates this section commits a felony
61 misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
62 s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
63 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected: H 875 Filed: 984.085, 985.731