Florida Senate - 2019                                     SB 540
       
       
        
       By Senator Book
       
       
       
       
       
       32-00086B-19                                           2019540__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to human trafficking; creating s.
    3         509.096, F.S.; requiring the owner or operator of a
    4         public lodging establishment to train certain
    5         employees and create certain policies relating to
    6         human trafficking by a specified date; requiring the
    7         Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department
    8         of Business and Professional Regulation to impose
    9         fines on public lodging establishments for failure to
   10         comply with such requirements; creating s. 787.08,
   11         F.S.; requiring the Department of Children and
   12         Families, in consultation with the Department of Law
   13         Enforcement and the Attorney General, to establish a
   14         certain direct-support organization; providing
   15         requirements for the direct-support organization;
   16         requiring the direct-support organization to form
   17         strategic partnerships and to serve as a liaison with
   18         public and private sector partners in funding the
   19         provision of inpatient care to victims of human
   20         trafficking; requiring the direct-support organization
   21         to operate under a written contract with the
   22         Department of Children and Families; providing
   23         contractual requirements; providing for the membership
   24         of and the appointment of directors to the board of
   25         the direct-support organization; providing for future
   26         review and repeal by the Legislature; amending s.
   27         796.07, F.S.; requiring that the criminal history
   28         record of a person who is convicted of, or enters a
   29         plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, soliciting,
   30         inducing, enticing, or procuring another to commit
   31         prostitution, lewdness, or assignation be added to the
   32         Soliciting for Prostitution Registry; requiring the
   33         clerk of the court to forward the criminal history
   34         record of such persons to the Department of Law
   35         Enforcement for certain purposes; creating s.
   36         943.0433, F.S.; requiring the Department of Law
   37         Enforcement to create and administer the Soliciting
   38         for Prostitution Registry; requiring the department to
   39         add certain criminal history records to the registry;
   40         requiring the department to adopt rules; amending s.
   41         943.0583, F.S.; creating an exception to a prohibition
   42         that bars certain victims of human trafficking from
   43         petitioning for the expunction of a criminal history
   44         record for offenses committed while the person was a
   45         victim of human trafficking as part of the human
   46         trafficking scheme or at the direction of an operator
   47         of the scheme; creating s. 943.17297, F.S.; requiring
   48         each certified law enforcement officer to successfully
   49         complete training on identifying and investigating
   50         human trafficking before a certain date; requiring
   51         that the training be developed in consultation with
   52         specified entities; specifying that an officer’s
   53         certification shall be inactive if he or she fails to
   54         complete the required training until the employing
   55         agency notifies the Criminal Justice Standards and
   56         Training Commission that the officer has completed the
   57         training; providing an effective date.
   58          
   59  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   60  
   61         Section 1. Section 509.096, Florida Statutes, is created to
   62  read:
   63         509.096 Human trafficking awareness training and policies
   64  for employees of public lodging establishment; penalties.—
   65         (1) An owner or operator of a public lodging establishment
   66  shall do both of the following:
   67         (a)Within 30 days after such employees are hired, or by
   68  January 1, 2020, whichever occurs later, require managing
   69  employees and employees of the establishment who are reasonably
   70  expected to routinely interact with guests to complete an
   71  educational program designed to effectively train them in the
   72  identification, prevention, and reporting of suspected human
   73  trafficking.
   74         (b)By January 1, 2020, implement an effective employee
   75  protocol or employee code of conduct to prevent, detect, and
   76  report suspected human trafficking.
   77         (2) The division shall impose an administrative fine of up
   78  to $1,000 per day on a public lodging establishment for the
   79  following violations:
   80         (a) The administrative fine must be assessed up to the
   81  maximum amount per day for each employee of the public lodging
   82  establishment who does not meet the educational program
   83  requirements of this section.
   84         (b) The administrative fine must be assessed up to the
   85  maximum amount per day for each day the public lodging
   86  establishment fails to comply with paragraph (1)(b).
   87         Section 2. Section 787.08, Florida Statutes, is created to
   88  read:
   89         787.08 Direct-support organization.—
   90         (1) The Department of Children and Families, in
   91  consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement and the
   92  Attorney General, shall establish a direct-support organization
   93  that is:
   94         (a) A Florida corporation, not for profit, incorporated
   95  under chapter 617 and approved by the Secretary of State.
   96         (b) Organized and operated exclusively to solicit funds;
   97  request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of money;
   98  acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name,
   99  property and funds; and make expenditures in support of the
  100  purposes specified in this section.
  101         (c) Certified by the department, after review, to be
  102  operating in a manner consistent with the purposes of the
  103  organization and in the best interests of the state.
  104         (2) The direct-support organization shall form strategic
  105  partnerships to foster the development of community and private
  106  sector resources and shall serve as a liaison with state
  107  agencies, other state governments, and the public and private
  108  sectors in funding the provision of inpatient care to victims of
  109  human trafficking in treatment centers throughout the state.
  110         (3) The direct-support organization shall operate under
  111  written contract with the Department of Children and Families.
  112  The contract must provide for:
  113         (a) Approval of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of
  114  the direct-support organization by the department.
  115         (b) Submission of an annual budget for approval by the
  116  department.
  117         (c) Annual certification by the department that the direct
  118  support organization is complying with the terms of the contract
  119  and operating in a manner consistent with the purposes of the
  120  organization and in the best interests of the state.
  121         (d) Reversion to the Florida Council Against Sexual
  122  Violence of moneys and property held in trust by the direct
  123  support organization to provide services for victims of sexual
  124  violence if the direct-support organization is no longer
  125  approved to operate or ceases to exist.
  126         (e) Disclosure of the material provisions of the contract
  127  and the distinction between the board of directors and the
  128  direct-support organization to donors of gifts, contributions,
  129  or bequests, which disclosures must be included in all
  130  promotional and fundraising publications.
  131         (f) An annual financial audit in accordance with s.
  132  215.981.
  133         (g) Establishment of the fiscal year of the direct-support
  134  organization as beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on
  135  June 30 of the following year.
  136         (h) Appointment of the board of directors, pursuant to this
  137  section.
  138         (i) Authority of the board of directors of the direct
  139  support organization to hire an executive director.
  140         (4) The board of directors of the direct-support
  141  organization consists of 13 members. Each member of the board of
  142  directors must be appointed to a 4-year term; however, for the
  143  purpose of providing staggered terms, the Speaker of the House
  144  of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall each
  145  initially appoint two members to serve a 2-year term, and the
  146  executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement and the
  147  Attorney General shall each initially appoint one member to
  148  serve a 2-year term. All subsequent appointments must be for 4
  149  year terms. Any vacancy that occurs must be filled in the same
  150  manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term of
  151  that seat. The board of directors is appointed as follows:
  152         (a) Two members with a law enforcement background who have
  153  knowledge in the area of human trafficking, appointed by the
  154  executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement.
  155         (b) Three members appointed by the Attorney General.
  156         (c) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
  157  Representatives.
  158         (d) Four members appointed by the President of the Senate.
  159         (5) This section is repealed October 1, 2024, unless
  160  reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
  161         Section 3. Subsection (5) of section 796.07, Florida
  162  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (2) of that section is
  163  republished, to read:
  164         796.07 Prohibiting prostitution and related acts.—
  165         (2) It is unlawful:
  166         (a) To own, establish, maintain, or operate any place,
  167  structure, building, or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness,
  168  assignation, or prostitution.
  169         (b) To offer, or to offer or agree to secure, another for
  170  the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent
  171  act.
  172         (c) To receive, or to offer or agree to receive, any person
  173  into any place, structure, building, or conveyance for the
  174  purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation, or to permit
  175  any person to remain there for such purpose.
  176         (d) To direct, take, or transport, or to offer or agree to
  177  direct, take, or transport, any person to any place, structure,
  178  or building, or to any other person, with knowledge or
  179  reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing,
  180  taking, or transporting is prostitution, lewdness, or
  181  assignation.
  182         (e) For a person 18 years of age or older to offer to
  183  commit, or to commit, or to engage in, prostitution, lewdness,
  184  or assignation.
  185         (f) To solicit, induce, entice, or procure another to
  186  commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
  187         (g) To reside in, enter, or remain in, any place,
  188  structure, or building, or to enter or remain in any conveyance,
  189  for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
  190         (h) To aid, abet, or participate in any of the acts or
  191  things enumerated in this subsection.
  192         (i) To purchase the services of any person engaged in
  193  prostitution.
  194         (5)(a) A person who violates paragraph (2)(f) commits:
  195         1. A misdemeanor of the first degree for a first violation,
  196  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
  197         2. A felony of the third degree for a second violation,
  198  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  199         3. A felony of the second degree for a third or subsequent
  200  violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or
  201  s. 775.084.
  202         (b) In addition to any other penalty imposed, the court
  203  shall order a person convicted of a violation of paragraph
  204  (2)(f) to:
  205         1. Perform 100 hours of community service; and
  206         2. Pay for and attend an educational program about the
  207  negative effects of prostitution and human trafficking, such as
  208  a sexual violence prevention education program, including such
  209  programs offered by faith-based providers, if such programs
  210  exist in the judicial circuit in which the offender is
  211  sentenced.
  212         (c) In addition to any other penalty imposed, the court
  213  shall sentence a person convicted of a second or subsequent
  214  violation of paragraph (2)(f) to a minimum mandatory period of
  215  incarceration of 10 days.
  216         (d)1. If a person who violates paragraph (2)(f) uses a
  217  vehicle in the course of the violation, the judge, upon the
  218  person’s conviction, may issue an order for the impoundment or
  219  immobilization of the vehicle for a period of up to 60 days. The
  220  order of impoundment or immobilization must include the names
  221  and telephone numbers of all immobilization agencies meeting all
  222  of the conditions of s. 316.193(13). Within 7 business days
  223  after the date that the court issues the order of impoundment or
  224  immobilization, the clerk of the court must send notice by
  225  certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered
  226  owner of the vehicle, if the registered owner is a person other
  227  than the defendant, and to each person of record claiming a lien
  228  against the vehicle.
  229         2. The owner of the vehicle may request the court to
  230  dismiss the order. The court must dismiss the order, and the
  231  owner of the vehicle will incur no costs, if the owner of the
  232  vehicle alleges and the court finds to be true any of the
  233  following:
  234         a. The owner’s family has no other private or public means
  235  of transportation;
  236         b. The vehicle was stolen at the time of the offense;
  237         c. The owner purchased the vehicle after the offense was
  238  committed, and the sale was not made to circumvent the order and
  239  allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle; or
  240         d. The vehicle is owned by the defendant but is operated
  241  solely by employees of the defendant or employees of a business
  242  owned by the defendant.
  243         3. If the court denies the request to dismiss the order,
  244  the petitioner may request an evidentiary hearing. If, at the
  245  evidentiary hearing, the court finds to be true any of the
  246  circumstances described in sub-subparagraphs (d)2.a.-d., the
  247  court must dismiss the order and the owner of the vehicle will
  248  incur no costs.
  249         (e) The criminal history record of a person who violates
  250  paragraph (2)(f) and is found guilty as a result of a trial or
  251  enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of
  252  whether adjudication is withheld, must be added to the
  253  Soliciting for Prostitution Registry. Upon the person’s
  254  conviction, the clerk of the court shall forward the criminal
  255  history record of the convicted person to the Department of Law
  256  Enforcement for inclusion in the Soliciting for Prostitution
  257  Registry.
  258         Section 4. Section 943.0433, Florida Statutes, is created
  259  to read:
  260         943.0433Soliciting for Prostitution Registry.—
  261         (1) The department shall create and administer the
  262  Soliciting for Prostitution Registry. The clerk of the court
  263  shall forward to the department the criminal history record of a
  264  person in accordance with s. 796.07(5)(e), and the department
  265  must add the criminal history record to the registry.
  266         (2) The department shall adopt rules to administer this
  267  section.
  268         Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 943.0583, Florida
  269  Statutes, is amended to read:
  270         943.0583 Human trafficking victim expunction.—
  271         (3) A person who is a victim of human trafficking may
  272  petition for the expunction of a criminal history record
  273  resulting from the arrest or filing of charges for an offense
  274  committed or reported to have been committed while the person
  275  was a victim of human trafficking, which offense was committed
  276  or reported to have been committed as a part of the human
  277  trafficking scheme of which the person was a victim or at the
  278  direction of an operator of the scheme, including, but not
  279  limited to, violations under chapters 796 and 847, without
  280  regard to the disposition of the arrest or of any charges.
  281  However, this section does not apply to any offense listed in s.
  282  775.084(1)(b)1., except for kidnapping. Determination of the
  283  petition under this section should be by a preponderance of the
  284  evidence. A conviction expunged under this section is deemed to
  285  have been vacated due to a substantive defect in the underlying
  286  criminal proceedings. If a person is adjudicated not guilty by
  287  reason of insanity or is found to be incompetent to stand trial
  288  for any such charge, the expunction of the criminal history
  289  record may not prevent the entry of the judgment or finding in
  290  state and national databases for use in determining eligibility
  291  to purchase or possess a firearm or to carry a concealed
  292  firearm, as authorized in s. 790.065(2)(a)4.c. and 18 U.S.C. s.
  293  922(t), nor shall it prevent any governmental agency that is
  294  authorized by state or federal law to determine eligibility to
  295  purchase or possess a firearm or to carry a concealed firearm
  296  from accessing or using the record of the judgment or finding in
  297  the course of such agency’s official duties.
  298         Section 6. Section 943.17297, Florida Statutes, is created
  299  to read:
  300         943.17297 Training in identifying and investigating human
  301  trafficking.—Each certified law enforcement officer must
  302  successfully complete training on identifying and investigating
  303  human trafficking as a part of the basic recruit training of the
  304  officer required in s. 943.13(9) or continuing education under
  305  s. 943.135(1) before July 1, 2022. The training must be
  306  developed in consultation with the Department of Children and
  307  Families and the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. If an
  308  officer fails to complete the required training, his or her
  309  certification shall be inactive until the employing agency
  310  notifies the commission that the officer has completed the
  311  training.
  312         Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.