Florida Senate - 2014 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1724
Ì4019541Î401954
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/11/2014 .
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following:
1 Senate Amendment to Amendment (485468) (with title
2 amendment)
3
4 Between lines 240 and 241
5 insert:
6 Section 8. Section 16.617, Florida Statutes, is created to
7 read:
8 16.617 Statewide Council on Human Trafficking; creation;
9 membership; duties.—
10 (1) CREATION.—There is created the Statewide Council on
11 Human Trafficking within the Department of Legal Affairs. The
12 council is created for the purpose of enhancing the development
13 and coordination of state and local law enforcement and social
14 services responses to fight commercial sexual exploitation, as a
15 form of human trafficking, and support victims.
16 (2) MEMBERSHIP.—
17 (a) The council shall consist of the following members:
18 1. The Attorney General, or a designee, who shall serve as
19 chair.
20 2. The Secretary of the Department of Children and
21 Families, or a designee, who shall serve as vice chair.
22 3. The State Surgeon General, or a designee.
23 4. The Secretary of the Agency for Health Care
24 Administration, or a designee.
25 5. The executive director of the Department of Law
26 Enforcement, or a designee.
27 6. The Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, or
28 a designee.
29 7. The Commissioner of the Department of Education, or a
30 designee.
31 8. One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of
32 the Senate.
33 9. One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by
34 the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
35 10. An elected sheriff, appointed by the Attorney General.
36 11. An elected state attorney, appointed by the Attorney
37 General.
38 12. Two members appointed by the Attorney General and two
39 members appointed by the Governor, all of whom have professional
40 experience to assist the council in the development of care and
41 treatment options for victims of human trafficking.
42 (b) Each member shall be appointed to a 4-year term.
43 However, for the purpose of achieving staggered terms, the
44 Attorney General, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker
45 of the House of Representatives shall each initially appoint
46 their respective members to serve a 2-year term. All subsequent
47 appointments shall be for 4-year terms. A vacancy that occurs
48 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment
49 and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of that
50 seat.
51 (c) A member may not receive a commission, fee, or
52 financial benefit in connection with serving on the council.
53 Pursuant to s. 112.061, council members may be entitled to
54 reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses by the state
55 agency the member represents. If a member is not affiliated with
56 a state agency, the member shall be reimbursed by the Department
57 of Legal Affairs.
58 (3) ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORT.—
59 (a) The first meeting of the council shall be held by
60 September 1, 2014. Thereafter, the council shall meet at least
61 once each quarter every calendar year. Meetings may be held via
62 teleconference or other electronic means.
63 (b) A majority of the members of the council constitutes a
64 quorum.
65 (c) The Department of Legal Affairs shall provide the
66 council with staff necessary to assist the council in the
67 performance of its duties.
68 (4) DUTIES.—The council shall:
69 (a) Develop recommendations for comprehensive programs and
70 services for victims of human trafficking to include
71 recommendations for certification criteria for safe houses and
72 safe foster homes.
73 (b) Make recommendations for apprehending and prosecuting
74 traffickers and enhancing coordination of responses.
75 (c) Annually hold a statewide policy summit in conjunction
76 with an institution of higher learning in this state.
77 (d) Work with the Department of Children and Families to
78 create and maintain an inventory of human trafficking programs
79 and services in each county, including, but not limited to,
80 awareness programs and victim assistance services, which can be
81 used to determine how to maximize existing resources and address
82 unmet needs and emerging trends.
83 (e) Develop policy recommendations that advance the duties
84 of the council and that further the efforts to combat human
85 trafficking in the state.
86 (5) REPORT.—By each October 31, the council shall submit a
87 report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
88 House of Representatives summarizing the accomplishments of the
89 council during the preceding fiscal year and making
90 recommendations regarding the development and coordination of
91 state and local law enforcement and social services responses to
92 combat human trafficking and support victims.
93
94 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
95 And the title is amended as follows:
96 Delete line 295
97 and insert:
98 985.115, F.S.; conforming cross-references; creating
99 s. 16.617, F.S.; creating the Statewide Council on
100 Human Trafficking within the Department of Legal
101 Affairs; providing the purpose of the council;
102 providing for membership of the council, appointment
103 of members, and reimbursement of members; providing
104 for meetings; requiring the Department of Legal
105 Affairs to provide staff to the council; specifying
106 duties of the council; requiring an annual report to
107 the Legislature by a specified date; requiring