HB 7181

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to immigrant survivors of human
3	trafficking and other serious crimes; requiring the
4	Department of Children and Family Services to provide
5	services to immigrant survivors of human trafficking,
6	domestic violence, and other serious crimes; providing for
7	the same state and local benefits that refugees receive;
8	ensuring that immigrant survivors of serious crimes have
9	access to state-funded services for refugees; providing
10	survivors of serious crimes with supportive services;
11	creating a state-funded component of the cash, medical,
12	and social services programs for refugees to serve victims
13	during a temporary waiting period; providing that a sworn
14	statement by a victim is sufficient evidence for the
15	purposes of determining eligibility for services if
16	supported by at least one piece of additional evidence;
17	providing for a public-awareness program for employers and
18	other organizations that may come into contact with
19	immigrant survivors of human trafficking; providing an
20	effective date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1.  The Department of Children and Family Services
25	shall establish a structure by which the department shall:
26	(1)  Provide services to immigrant survivors of human
27	trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes, during
28	the interim period between the time the survivor applies for a
29	visa and receives such visa from the United States Department of
30	Homeland Security or receives certification from the United
31	States Department of Health and Human Services;
32	(2)  Ensure that immigrant survivors of serious crimes are
33	eligible to receive existing state and local benefits and
34	services to the same extent that refugees receive those benefits
35	and services;
36	(3)  Ensure that immigrant survivors of serious crimes have
37	access to state-funded services that are equivalent to the
38	federal programs that provide cash, medical services, and social
39	service for refugees;
40	(4)  Provide survivors of serious crimes with medical care,
41	mental health care, and basic assistance in order to help them
42	secure housing, food, and supportive services;
43	(5)  Create a state-funded component of the cash, medical,
44	and social services programs for refugees for the purpose of
45	serving immigrant survivors during the temporary period while
46	they wait for federal processing to be completed;
47	(6)  Provide that a sworn statement by a survivor is
48	sufficient evidence for the purposes of determining eligibility
49	if that statement is supported by at least one item of
50	additional evidence, including, but not limited to:
51	(a)  Police and court records;
52	(b)  News articles;
53	(c)  Documentation from a professional agency;
54	(d)  Physical evidence; or
55	(e)  A statement from an individual having knowledge of the
56	circumstances providing the basis for the claim;
57	(7)  Develop a public-awareness program for employers and
58	other organizations that may come into contact with immigrant
59	survivors of human trafficking in order to provide education and
60	raise awareness of the problem.
61	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.