Florida Senate - 2012 CS for SB 202
By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
Senator Flores
586-01578-12 2012202c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to sexual exploitation; providing a
3 short title; amending s. 39.001, F.S.; providing
4 legislative intent and goals; conforming cross
5 references; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; revising the
6 definitions of the terms “abuse,” “child who is found
7 to be dependent,” and “sexual abuse of a child”;
8 amending s. 39.401, F.S.; authorizing delivery of
9 children alleged to be dependent and sexually
10 exploited to short-term safe houses; amending s.
11 39.402, F.S.; providing for a presumption that
12 placement of a child alleged to have been sexually
13 exploited in a short-term safe house is necessary;
14 providing requirements for findings in a shelter
15 hearing relating to placement of an allegedly sexually
16 exploited child in a short-term safe house; amending
17 s. 39.521, F.S.; providing for a presumption that
18 placement of a child alleged to have been sexually
19 exploited in a safe house is necessary; creating s.
20 39.524, F.S.; requiring assessment of certain children
21 for placement in a safe house; providing for use of
22 such assessments; providing requirements for safe
23 houses receiving such children; requiring an annual
24 report concerning safe-house placements; creating s.
25 409.1678, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring
26 circuits of the Department of Children and Family
27 Services to address child welfare service needs of
28 sexually exploited children as a component of their
29 master plans; providing duties, responsibilities, and
30 requirements for safe houses and their operators;
31 providing for training for law enforcement officials
32 who are likely to encounter sexually exploited
33 children; amending s. 796.07, F.S.; providing for an
34 increased civil penalty for soliciting another to
35 commit prostitution or related acts; providing for
36 disposition of proceeds; amending s. 960.065, F.S.;
37 allowing victim compensation for sexually exploited
38 children; amending s. 985.115, F.S.; conforming a
39 provision to changes made by the act; providing an
40 effective date.
41
42 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
43
44 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Florida Safe
45 Harbor Act.”
46 Section 2. Subsections (4) through (12) of section 39.001,
47 Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through
48 (13), respectively, paragraph (c) of present subsection (7) and
49 paragraph (b) of present subsection (9) are amended, and a new
50 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
51 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and
52 screening.—
53 (4) SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SERVICES.—
54 (a) The Legislature recognizes that child sexual
55 exploitation is a serious problem nationwide and in this state.
56 The children at greatest risk of being sexually exploited are
57 runaways and throwaways. Many of these children have a history
58 of abuse and neglect. The vulnerability of these children starts
59 with isolation from family and friends. Traffickers maintain
60 control of child victims through psychological manipulation,
61 force, drug addiction, or the exploitation of economic,
62 physical, or emotional vulnerability. Children exploited through
63 the sex trade often find it difficult to trust adults because of
64 their abusive experiences. These children make up a population
65 that is difficult to serve and even more difficult to
66 rehabilitate.
67 (b) The Legislature establishes the following goals for the
68 state related to the status and treatment of sexually exploited
69 children in the dependency process:
70 1. To ensure the safety of children.
71 2. To provide for the treatment of such children as
72 dependent children rather than as delinquents.
73 3. To sever the bond between exploited children and
74 traffickers and to reunite these children with their families or
75 provide them with appropriate guardians.
76 4. To enable such children to be willing and reliable
77 witnesses in the prosecution of traffickers.
78 (c) The Legislature finds that sexually exploited children
79 need special care and services in the dependency process,
80 including counseling, health care, substance abuse treatment,
81 educational opportunities, and a safe environment secure from
82 traffickers.
83 (d) The Legislature further finds that sexually exploited
84 children need the special care and services described in
85 paragraph (c) independent of their citizenship, residency,
86 alien, or immigrant status. It is the intent of the Legislature
87 that this state provide such care and services to all sexually
88 exploited children in this state who are not otherwise receiving
89 comparable services, such as those under the federal Trafficking
90 Victims Protection Act, 22 U.S.C. ss. 7101 et seq.
91 (8)(7) OFFICE OF ADOPTION AND CHILD PROTECTION.—
92 (c) The office is authorized and directed to:
93 1. Oversee the preparation and implementation of the state
94 plan established under subsection (9) (8) and revise and update
95 the state plan as necessary.
96 2. Provide for or make available continuing professional
97 education and training in the prevention of child abuse and
98 neglect.
99 3. Work to secure funding in the form of appropriations,
100 gifts, and grants from the state, the Federal Government, and
101 other public and private sources in order to ensure that
102 sufficient funds are available for the promotion of adoption,
103 support of adoptive families, and child abuse prevention
104 efforts.
105 4. Make recommendations pertaining to agreements or
106 contracts for the establishment and development of:
107 a. Programs and services for the promotion of adoption,
108 support of adoptive families, and prevention of child abuse and
109 neglect.
110 b. Training programs for the prevention of child abuse and
111 neglect.
112 c. Multidisciplinary and discipline-specific training
113 programs for professionals with responsibilities affecting
114 children, young adults, and families.
115 d. Efforts to promote adoption.
116 e. Postadoptive services to support adoptive families.
117 5. Monitor, evaluate, and review the development and
118 quality of local and statewide services and programs for the
119 promotion of adoption, support of adoptive families, and
120 prevention of child abuse and neglect and shall publish and
121 distribute an annual report of its findings on or before January
122 1 of each year to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
123 Representatives, the President of the Senate, the head of each
124 state agency affected by the report, and the appropriate
125 substantive committees of the Legislature. The report shall
126 include:
127 a. A summary of the activities of the office.
128 b. A summary of the adoption data collected and reported to
129 the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting
130 System (AFCARS) and the federal Administration for Children and
131 Families.
132 c. A summary of the child abuse prevention data collected
133 and reported to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
134 (NCANDS) and the federal Administration for Children and
135 Families.
136 d. A summary detailing the timeliness of the adoption
137 process for children adopted from within the child welfare
138 system.
139 e. Recommendations, by state agency, for the further
140 development and improvement of services and programs for the
141 promotion of adoption, support of adoptive families, and
142 prevention of child abuse and neglect.
143 f. Budget requests, adoption promotion and support needs,
144 and child abuse prevention program needs by state agency.
145 6. Work with the direct-support organization established
146 under s. 39.0011 to receive financial assistance.
147 (10)(9) FUNDING AND SUBSEQUENT PLANS.—
148 (b) The office and the other agencies and organizations
149 listed in paragraph (9)(8)(a) shall readdress the state plan and
150 make necessary revisions every 5 years, at a minimum. Such
151 revisions shall be submitted to the Speaker of the House of
152 Representatives and the President of the Senate no later than
153 June 30 of each year divisible by 5. At least biennially, the
154 office shall review the state plan and make any necessary
155 revisions based on changing needs and program evaluation
156 results. An annual progress report shall be submitted to update
157 the state plan in the years between the 5-year intervals. In
158 order to avoid duplication of effort, these required plans may
159 be made a part of or merged with other plans required by either
160 the state or Federal Government, so long as the portions of the
161 other state or Federal Government plan that constitute the state
162 plan for the promotion of adoption, support of adoptive
163 families, and prevention of child abuse, abandonment, and
164 neglect are clearly identified as such and are provided to the
165 Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the
166 Senate as required above.
167 Section 3. Subsections (2) and (15) and paragraph (g) of
168 subsection (67) of section 39.01, Florida Statutes, are amended
169 to read:
170 39.01 Definitions.—When used in this chapter, unless the
171 context otherwise requires:
172 (2) “Abuse” means any willful act or threatened act that
173 results in any physical, mental, or sexual abuse, injury, or
174 harm that causes or is likely to cause the child’s physical,
175 mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired. Abuse
176 of a child includes acts or omissions. Corporal discipline of a
177 child by a parent or legal custodian for disciplinary purposes
178 does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in
179 harm to the child.
180 (15) “Child who is found to be dependent” means a child
181 who, pursuant to this chapter, is found by the court:
182 (a) To have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by the
183 child’s parent or parents or legal custodians;
184 (b) To have been surrendered to the department, the former
185 Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, or a licensed
186 child-placing agency for purpose of adoption;
187 (c) To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child
188 caring agency, a licensed child-placing agency, an adult
189 relative, the department, or the former Department of Health and
190 Rehabilitative Services, after which placement, under the
191 requirements of this chapter, a case plan has expired and the
192 parent or parents or legal custodians have failed to
193 substantially comply with the requirements of the plan;
194 (d) To have been voluntarily placed with a licensed child
195 placing agency for the purposes of subsequent adoption, and a
196 parent or parents have signed a consent pursuant to the Florida
197 Rules of Juvenile Procedure;
198 (e) To have no parent or legal custodians capable of
199 providing supervision and care; or
200 (f) To be at substantial risk of imminent abuse,
201 abandonment, or neglect by the parent or parents or legal
202 custodians; or
203 (g) To have been sexually exploited and to have no parent,
204 legal custodian, or responsible adult relative currently known
205 and capable of providing the necessary and appropriate
206 supervision and care.
207 (67) “Sexual abuse of a child” means one or more of the
208 following acts:
209 (g) The sexual exploitation of a child, which includes the
210 act of a child offering to engage in or engaging in
211 prostitution; or allowing, encouraging, or forcing a child to:
212 1. Solicit for or engage in prostitution; or
213 2. Engage in a sexual performance, as defined by chapter
214 827; or
215 3. Participate in the trade of sex trafficking as provided
216 in s. 796.035.
217 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
218 (b) of subsection (3) of section 39.401, Florida Statutes, are
219 amended to read:
220 39.401 Taking a child alleged to be dependent into custody;
221 law enforcement officers and authorized agents of the
222 department.—
223 (2) If the law enforcement officer takes the child into
224 custody, that officer shall:
225 (b) Deliver the child to an authorized agent of the
226 department, stating the facts by reason of which the child was
227 taken into custody and sufficient information to establish
228 probable cause that the child is abandoned, abused, or
229 neglected, or otherwise dependent. In the case of a child for
230 whom there is probable cause to believe he or she has been
231 sexually exploited, the law enforcement officer may deliver the
232 child to the appropriate short-term safe house as provided for
233 in s. 409.1678 if a short-term safe house is available.
234
235 For cases involving allegations of abandonment, abuse, or
236 neglect, or other dependency cases, within 3 days after such
237 release or within 3 days after delivering the child to an
238 authorized agent of the department, the law enforcement officer
239 who took the child into custody shall make a full written report
240 to the department.
241 (3) If the child is taken into custody by, or is delivered
242 to, an authorized agent of the department, the agent shall
243 review the facts supporting the removal with an attorney
244 representing the department. The purpose of the review is to
245 determine whether there is probable cause for the filing of a
246 shelter petition.
247 (b) If the facts are sufficient and the child has not been
248 returned to the custody of the parent or legal custodian, the
249 department shall file the petition and schedule a hearing, and
250 the attorney representing the department shall request that a
251 shelter hearing be held within 24 hours after the removal of the
252 child. While awaiting the shelter hearing, the authorized agent
253 of the department may place the child in licensed shelter care,
254 or in a short-term safe house if the child is a sexually
255 exploited child, or may release the child to a parent or legal
256 custodian or responsible adult relative or the adoptive parent
257 of the child’s sibling who shall be given priority consideration
258 over a licensed placement, or a responsible adult approved by
259 the department if this is in the best interests of the child.
260 Placement of a child which is not in a licensed shelter must be
261 preceded by a criminal history records check as required under
262 s. 39.0138. In addition, the department may authorize placement
263 of a housekeeper/homemaker in the home of a child alleged to be
264 dependent until the parent or legal custodian assumes care of
265 the child.
266 Section 5. Subsection (2) and paragraphs (a), (d), and (h)
267 of subsection (8) of section 39.402, Florida Statutes, are
268 amended to read:
269 39.402 Placement in a shelter.—
270 (2) A child taken into custody may be placed or continued
271 in a shelter only if one or more of the criteria in subsection
272 (1) apply applies and the court has made a specific finding of
273 fact regarding the necessity for removal of the child from the
274 home and has made a determination that the provision of
275 appropriate and available services will not eliminate the need
276 for placement. In the case of a child who is alleged to have
277 been sexually exploited, there is a rebuttable presumption that
278 placement in a short-term safe house is necessary.
279 (8)(a) A child may not be held in a shelter longer than 24
280 hours unless an order so directing is entered by the court after
281 a shelter hearing. In the interval until the shelter hearing is
282 held, the decision to place the child in a shelter or release
283 the child from a shelter lies with the protective investigator.
284 In the case of a child who is alleged to have been sexually
285 exploited, there is a rebuttable presumption that placement in a
286 short-term safe house is necessary.
287 (d) At the shelter hearing, in order to continue the child
288 in shelter care:
289 1. The department must establish probable cause that
290 reasonable grounds for removal exist and that the provision of
291 appropriate and available services will not eliminate the need
292 for placement;
293 2. The department must establish probable cause for the
294 belief that the child has been sexually exploited and,
295 therefore, that placement in a short-term safe house is the most
296 appropriate environment for the child; or
297 3.2. The court must determine that additional time is
298 necessary, which may not exceed 72 hours, in which to obtain and
299 review documents pertaining to the family in order to
300 appropriately determine the risk to the child during which time
301 the child shall remain in the department’s custody, if so
302 ordered by the court.
303 (h) The order for placement of a child in shelter care must
304 identify the parties present at the hearing and must contain
305 written findings:
306 1. That placement in shelter care is necessary based on the
307 criteria in subsections (1) and (2).
308 2. That placement in shelter care is in the best interest
309 of the child.
310 3. That continuation of the child in the home is contrary
311 to the welfare of the child because the home situation presents
312 a substantial and immediate danger to the child’s physical,
313 mental, or emotional health or safety which cannot be mitigated
314 by the provision of preventive services.
315 4. That based upon the allegations of the petition for
316 placement in shelter care, there is probable cause to believe
317 that the child is dependent or that the court needs additional
318 time, which may not exceed 72 hours, in which to obtain and
319 review documents pertaining to the family in order to
320 appropriately determine the risk to the child.
321 5. That the department has made reasonable efforts to
322 prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the
323 home. A finding of reasonable effort by the department to
324 prevent or eliminate the need for removal may be made and the
325 department is deemed to have made reasonable efforts to prevent
326 or eliminate the need for removal if:
327 a. The first contact of the department with the family
328 occurs during an emergency;
329 b. The appraisal of the home situation by the department
330 indicates that the home situation presents a substantial and
331 immediate danger to the child’s physical, mental, or emotional
332 health or safety which cannot be mitigated by the provision of
333 preventive services;
334 c. The child cannot safely remain at home, either because
335 there are no preventive services that can ensure the health and
336 safety of the child or because, even with appropriate and
337 available services being provided, the health and safety of the
338 child cannot be ensured;
339 d. The child has been sexually exploited; or
340 e.d. The parent or legal custodian is alleged to have
341 committed any of the acts listed as grounds for expedited
342 termination of parental rights in s. 39.806(1)(f)-(i).
343 6. That the court notified the parents, relatives that are
344 providing out-of-home care for the child, or legal custodians of
345 the time, date, and location of the next dependency hearing and
346 of the importance of the active participation of the parents,
347 relatives that are providing out-of-home care for the child, or
348 legal custodians in all proceedings and hearings.
349 7. That the court notified the parents or legal custodians
350 of their right to counsel to represent them at the shelter
351 hearing and at each subsequent hearing or proceeding, and the
352 right of the parents to appointed counsel, pursuant to the
353 procedures set forth in s. 39.013.
354 8. That the court notified relatives who are providing out
355 of-home care for a child as a result of the shelter petition
356 being granted that they have the right to attend all subsequent
357 hearings, to submit reports to the court, and to speak to the
358 court regarding the child, if they so desire.
359 Section 6. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraph
360 (d) of subsection (3) of section 39.521, Florida Statutes, are
361 amended to read:
362 39.521 Disposition hearings; powers of disposition.—
363 (1) A disposition hearing shall be conducted by the court,
364 if the court finds that the facts alleged in the petition for
365 dependency were proven in the adjudicatory hearing, or if the
366 parents or legal custodians have consented to the finding of
367 dependency or admitted the allegations in the petition, have
368 failed to appear for the arraignment hearing after proper
369 notice, or have not been located despite a diligent search
370 having been conducted.
371 (f) If the court places the child in an out-of-home
372 placement, the disposition order must include a written
373 determination that the child cannot safely remain at home with
374 reunification or family preservation services and that removal
375 of the child is necessary to protect the child. If the child is
376 removed before the disposition hearing, the order must also
377 include a written determination as to whether, after removal,
378 the department made a reasonable effort to reunify the parent
379 and child. Reasonable efforts to reunify are not required if the
380 court finds that any of the acts listed in s. 39.806(1)(f)-(l)
381 have occurred. The department has the burden of demonstrating
382 that it made reasonable efforts.
383 1. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “reasonable
384 effort” means the exercise of reasonable diligence and care by
385 the department to provide the services ordered by the court or
386 delineated in the case plan.
387 2. In support of its determination as to whether reasonable
388 efforts have been made, the court shall:
389 a. Enter written findings as to whether prevention or
390 reunification efforts were indicated.
391 b. If prevention or reunification efforts were indicated,
392 include a brief written description of what appropriate and
393 available prevention and reunification efforts were made.
394 c. Indicate in writing why further efforts could or could
395 not have prevented or shortened the separation of the parent and
396 child.
397 3. A court may find that the department made a reasonable
398 effort to prevent or eliminate the need for removal if:
399 a. The first contact of the department with the family
400 occurs during an emergency;
401 b. The appraisal by the department of the home situation
402 indicates a substantial and immediate danger to the child’s
403 safety or physical, mental, or emotional health which cannot be
404 mitigated by the provision of preventive services;
405 c. The child cannot safely remain at home, because there
406 are no preventive services that can ensure the health and safety
407 of the child or, even with appropriate and available services
408 being provided, the health and safety of the child cannot be
409 ensured. There is a rebuttable presumption that any child who
410 has been found to be a victim of sexual exploitation as defined
411 in s. 39.01(67)(g) meets the terms of this sub-subparagraph; or
412 d. The parent is alleged to have committed any of the acts
413 listed as grounds for expedited termination of parental rights
414 under s. 39.806(1)(f)-(l).
415 4. A reasonable effort by the department for reunification
416 has been made if the appraisal of the home situation by the
417 department indicates that the severity of the conditions of
418 dependency is such that reunification efforts are inappropriate.
419 The department has the burden of demonstrating to the court that
420 reunification efforts were inappropriate.
421 5. If the court finds that the prevention or reunification
422 effort of the department would not have permitted the child to
423 remain safely at home, the court may commit the child to the
424 temporary legal custody of the department or take any other
425 action authorized by this chapter.
426 (3) When any child is adjudicated by a court to be
427 dependent, the court shall determine the appropriate placement
428 for the child as follows:
429 (d) If the child cannot be safely placed in a nonlicensed
430 placement, the court shall commit the child to the temporary
431 legal custody of the department. Such commitment invests in the
432 department all rights and responsibilities of a legal custodian.
433 The department shall not return any child to the physical care
434 and custody of the person from whom the child was removed,
435 except for court-approved visitation periods, without the
436 approval of the court. Any order for visitation or other contact
437 must conform to the provisions of s. 39.0139. There is a
438 rebuttable presumption that any child who has been found to be a
439 victim of sexual exploitation as defined in s. 39.01(67)(g) be
440 committed to a safe house as provided for in s. 409.1678. The
441 term of such commitment continues until terminated by the court
442 or until the child reaches the age of 18. After the child is
443 committed to the temporary legal custody of the department, all
444 further proceedings under this section are governed by this
445 chapter.
446
447 Protective supervision continues until the court terminates it
448 or until the child reaches the age of 18, whichever date is
449 first. Protective supervision shall be terminated by the court
450 whenever the court determines that permanency has been achieved
451 for the child, whether with a parent, another relative, or a
452 legal custodian, and that protective supervision is no longer
453 needed. The termination of supervision may be with or without
454 retaining jurisdiction, at the court’s discretion, and shall in
455 either case be considered a permanency option for the child. The
456 order terminating supervision by the department shall set forth
457 the powers of the custodian of the child and shall include the
458 powers ordinarily granted to a guardian of the person of a minor
459 unless otherwise specified. Upon the court’s termination of
460 supervision by the department, no further judicial reviews are
461 required, so long as permanency has been established for the
462 child.
463 Section 7. Section 39.524, Florida Statutes, is created to
464 read:
465 39.524 Safe-harbor placement.—
466 (1) Except as provided in s. 39.407, any dependent child 6
467 years of age or older who has been found to be a victim of
468 sexual exploitation as defined in s. 39.01(67)(g) must be
469 assessed for placement in a safe house as provided in s.
470 409.1678. The assessment shall be conducted by the department or
471 its agent and shall incorporate and address current and
472 historical information from any law enforcement reports;
473 psychological testing or evaluation that has occurred; current
474 and historical information from the guardian ad litem, if one
475 has been assigned; current and historical information from any
476 current therapist, teacher, or other professional who has
477 knowledge of the child and has worked with the child; and any
478 other information concerning the availability and suitability of
479 safe-house placement. If such placement is determined to be
480 appropriate as a result of this procedure, the child must be
481 placed in a safe house, if one is available. As used in this
482 section, the term “available” as it relates to a placement means
483 a placement that is located within the circuit or that is
484 otherwise reasonably accessible.
485 (2) The results of the assessment described in subsection
486 (1) and the actions taken as a result of the assessment must be
487 included in the next judicial review of the child. At each
488 subsequent judicial review, the court must be advised in writing
489 of the status of the child’s placement, with special reference
490 regarding the stability of the placement and the permanency
491 planning for the child.
492 (3) Any safe house that receives children under this
493 section shall establish special permanency teams dedicated to
494 overcoming the special permanency challenges presented by this
495 population of children. Each facility shall report to the
496 department its success in achieving permanency for children
497 placed by the department in its care at intervals that allow the
498 current information to be provided to the court at each judicial
499 review for the child.
500 (4)(a) By December 1 of each year, the department shall
501 report to the Legislature on the placement of children in safe
502 houses during the year, including the criteria used to determine
503 the placement of children, the number of children who were
504 evaluated for placement, the number of children who were placed
505 based upon the evaluation, and the number of children who were
506 not placed.
507 (b) The department shall maintain data specifying the
508 number of children who were referred to a safe house for whom
509 placement was unavailable and the counties in which such
510 placement was unavailable. The department shall include this
511 data in its report under this subsection so that the Legislature
512 may consider this information in developing the General
513 Appropriations Act.
514 Section 8. Section 409.1678, Florida Statutes, is created
515 to read:
516 409.1678 Safe harbor for children who are victims of sexual
517 exploitation.—
518 (1) As used in this section, the term:
519 (a) “Child advocate” means an employee of a short-term safe
520 house who has been trained to work with and advocate for the
521 needs of sexually exploited children. The advocate shall
522 accompany the child to all court appearances, meetings with law
523 enforcement, and the state attorney’s office and shall serve as
524 a liaison between the short-term safe house and the court.
525 (b) “Safe house” means a living environment that has set
526 aside gender-specific, separate, and distinct living quarters
527 for sexually exploited children who have been adjudicated
528 dependent or delinquent and need to reside in a secure
529 residential facility with staff members awake 24 hours a day. A
530 safe house shall be operated by a licensed family foster home or
531 residential child-caring agency as defined in s. 409.175,
532 including a runaway youth center as defined in s. 409.441. Each
533 facility must be appropriately licensed in this state as a
534 residential child-caring agency as defined in s. 409.175 and
535 must be accredited by July 1, 2013. A safe house serving
536 children who have been sexually exploited must have available
537 staff or contract personnel with the clinical expertise,
538 credentials, and training to provide services identified in
539 paragraph (2)(b).
540 (c) “Secure” means that a child is supervised 24 hours a
541 day by staff members who are awake while on duty.
542 (d) “Sexually exploited child” means a dependent child who
543 has suffered sexual exploitation as defined in s. 39.01(67)(g)
544 and is ineligible for relief and benefits under the federal
545 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 22 U.S.C. ss. 7101 et seq.
546 (e) “Short-term safe house” means a shelter operated by a
547 licensed residential child-caring agency as defined in s.
548 409.175, including a runaway youth center as defined in s.
549 409.441, that has set aside gender-specific, separate, and
550 distinct living quarters for sexually exploited children. In
551 addition to shelter, the house shall provide services and care
552 to sexually exploited children, including food, clothing,
553 medical care, counseling, and appropriate crisis intervention
554 services at the time they are taken into custody by law
555 enforcement or the department.
556 (2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pursuant
557 to regulations of the department, every circuit of the
558 department shall address the child welfare service needs of
559 sexually exploited children as a component of the circuit’s
560 master plan. This determination shall be made in consultation
561 with local law enforcement, runaway and homeless youth program
562 providers, local probation departments, local community-based
563 care and social services, local guardians ad litem, public
564 defenders, state attorney’s offices, and child advocates and
565 services providers who work directly with sexually exploited
566 youth.
567 (b) The lead agency, not-for-profit agency, or local
568 government entity providing safe-house services is responsible
569 for security, crisis intervention services, general counseling
570 and victim-witness counseling, a comprehensive assessment,
571 residential care, transportation, access to behavioral health
572 services, recreational activities, food, clothing, supplies,
573 infant care, and miscellaneous expenses associated with caring
574 for these children; for necessary arrangement for or provision
575 of educational services, including life skills services and
576 planning services to successfully transition residents back to
577 the community; and for ensuring necessary and appropriate health
578 and dental care.
579 (c) This section does not prohibit any provider of these
580 services from appropriately billing Medicaid for services
581 rendered, from contracting with a local school district for
582 educational services, or from obtaining federal or local funding
583 for services provided, as long as two or more funding sources do
584 not pay for the same specific service that has been provided to
585 a child.
586 (d) The lead agency, not-for-profit agency, or local
587 government entity providing safe-house services has the legal
588 authority for children served in a safe-house program, as
589 provided in chapter 39 or this chapter, as appropriate, to
590 enroll the child in school, to sign for a driver’s license for
591 the child, to cosign loans and insurance for the child, to sign
592 for medical treatment of the child, and to authorize other such
593 activities.
594 (e) All of the services created under this section may, to
595 the extent possible provided by law, be available to all
596 sexually exploited children whether they are accessed
597 voluntarily, as a condition of probation, through a diversion
598 program, through a proceeding under chapter 39, or through a
599 referral from a local community-based care or social service
600 agency.
601 (3) The local circuit administrator may, to the extent that
602 funds are available, in conjunction with local law enforcement
603 officials, contract with an appropriate not-for-profit agency
604 having experience working with sexually exploited children to
605 train law enforcement officials who are likely to encounter
606 sexually exploited children in the course of their law
607 enforcement duties on the provisions of this section and how to
608 identify and obtain appropriate services for sexually exploited
609 children. Circuits may work cooperatively to provide such
610 training, and such training may be provided on a regional basis.
611 The department shall assist circuits in obtaining any available
612 funds for the purposes of conducting law enforcement training
613 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
614 of the United States Department of Justice.
615 Section 9. Section 796.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
616 read:
617 796.07 Prohibiting prostitution and related acts, etc.;
618 evidence; penalties; definitions.—
619 (1) As used in this section:
620 (a) “Prostitution” means the giving or receiving of the
621 body for sexual activity for hire but excludes sexual activity
622 between spouses.
623 (b) “Lewdness” means any indecent or obscene act.
624 (c) “Assignation” means the making of any appointment or
625 engagement for prostitution or lewdness, or any act in
626 furtherance of such appointment or engagement.
627 (d) “Sexual activity” means oral, anal, or vaginal
628 penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another; anal
629 or vaginal penetration of another by any other object; or the
630 handling or fondling of the sexual organ of another for the
631 purpose of masturbation; however, the term does not include acts
632 done for bona fide medical purposes.
633 (2) It is unlawful:
634 (a) To own, establish, maintain, or operate any place,
635 structure, building, or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness,
636 assignation, or prostitution.
637 (b) To offer, or to offer or agree to secure, another for
638 the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent
639 act.
640 (c) To receive, or to offer or agree to receive, any person
641 into any place, structure, building, or conveyance for the
642 purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation, or to permit
643 any person to remain there for such purpose.
644 (d) To direct, take, or transport, or to offer or agree to
645 direct, take, or transport, any person to any place, structure,
646 or building, or to any other person, with knowledge or
647 reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing,
648 taking, or transporting is prostitution, lewdness, or
649 assignation.
650 (e) To offer to commit, or to commit, or to engage in,
651 prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
652 (f) To solicit, induce, entice, or procure another to
653 commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
654 (g) To reside in, enter, or remain in, any place,
655 structure, or building, or to enter or remain in any conveyance,
656 for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
657 (h) To aid, abet, or participate in any of the acts or
658 things enumerated in this subsection.
659 (i) To purchase the services of any person engaged in
660 prostitution.
661 (3)(a) In the trial of a person charged with a violation of
662 this section, testimony concerning the reputation of any place,
663 structure, building, or conveyance involved in the charge,
664 testimony concerning the reputation of any person residing in,
665 operating, or frequenting such place, structure, building, or
666 conveyance, and testimony concerning the reputation of the
667 defendant is admissible in evidence in support of the charge.
668 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a police
669 officer may testify as an offended party in an action regarding
670 charges filed pursuant to this section.
671 (4) A person who violates any provision of this section
672 commits:
673 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first
674 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
675 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second
676 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
677 (c) A felony of the third degree for a third or subsequent
678 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or
679 s. 775.084.
680 (5) A person who is charged with a third or subsequent
681 violation of this section shall be offered admission to a
682 pretrial intervention program or a substance-abuse treatment
683 program as provided in s. 948.08.
684 (6) A person who violates paragraph (2)(f) shall be
685 assessed a civil penalty of $5,000 $500 if the violation results
686 in any judicial disposition other than acquittal or dismissal.
687 Of the proceeds from each penalty penalties assessed under this
688 subsection, $500 shall be paid to the circuit court
689 administrator for the sole purpose of paying the administrative
690 costs of treatment-based drug court programs provided under s.
691 397.334 and $4,500 shall be paid to the Department of Children
692 and Family Services for the sole purpose of funding safe houses
693 and short-term safe houses as provided in s. 409.1678.
694 Section 10. Section 960.065, Florida Statutes, is amended
695 to read:
696 960.065 Eligibility for awards.—
697 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the following
698 persons shall be eligible for awards pursuant to this chapter:
699 (a) A victim.
700 (b) An intervenor.
701 (c) A surviving spouse, parent or guardian, sibling, or
702 child of a deceased victim or intervenor.
703 (d) Any other person who is dependent for his or her
704 principal support upon a deceased victim or intervenor.
705 (2) Any claim filed by or on behalf of a person who:
706 (a) Committed or aided in the commission of the crime upon
707 which the claim for compensation was based;
708 (b) Was engaged in an unlawful activity at the time of the
709 crime upon which the claim for compensation is based;
710 (c) Was in custody or confined, regardless of conviction,
711 in a county or municipal detention facility, a state or federal
712 correctional facility, or a juvenile detention or commitment
713 facility at the time of the crime upon which the claim for
714 compensation is based;
715 (d) Has been adjudicated as a habitual felony offender,
716 habitual violent offender, or violent career criminal under s.
717 775.084; or
718 (e) Has been adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony
719 offense as described in s. 776.08,
720
721 is ineligible shall not be eligible for an award.
722 (3) Any claim filed by or on behalf of a person who was in
723 custody or confined, regardless of adjudication, in a county or
724 municipal facility, a state or federal correctional facility, or
725 a juvenile detention, commitment, or assessment facility at the
726 time of the crime upon which the claim is based, who has been
727 adjudicated as a habitual felony offender under s. 775.084, or
728 who has been adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony offense as
729 described in s. 776.08, renders the person ineligible shall not
730 be eligible for an award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a
731 finding by the Crime Victims’ Services Office of the existence
732 of mitigating or special circumstances that would render such a
733 disqualification unjust, an award may be approved. A decision
734 that mitigating or special circumstances do not exist in a case
735 subject to this section does shall not constitute final agency
736 action subject to review pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
737 (4) Payment may not be made under this chapter if the
738 person who committed the crime upon which the claim is based
739 will receive any direct or indirect financial benefit from such
740 payment, unless such benefit is minimal or inconsequential.
741 Payment may not be denied based on the victim’s familial
742 relationship to the offender or based upon the sharing of a
743 residence by the victim and offender, except to prevent unjust
744 enrichment of the offender.
745 (5) A person is not ineligible for an award pursuant to
746 paragraph (2)(a), paragraph (2)(b), or paragraph (2)(c) if that
747 person is a victim of sexual exploitation of a child as defined
748 in s. 39.01(67)(g).
749 Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
750 985.115, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
751 985.115 Release or delivery from custody.—
752 (2) Unless otherwise ordered by the court under s. 985.255
753 or s. 985.26, and unless there is a need to hold the child, a
754 person taking a child into custody shall attempt to release the
755 child as follows:
756 (b) Contingent upon specific appropriation, to a shelter
757 approved by the department or to an authorized agent or short
758 term safe house under s. 39.401(2)(b).
759 Section 12. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013.