CS for CS for SB 772                             First Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2022772e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the protection of victims and
    3         witnesses; amending s. 92.55, F.S.; replacing the term
    4         “sexual offense victim or witness” with “sexual
    5         offense victim”; defining the term “sexual offense
    6         victim”; revising the standard for orders to protect
    7         certain testifying victims and witnesses; prohibiting
    8         depositions of certain victims and witnesses in
    9         certain proceedings without a showing of good cause;
   10         authorizing the court to allow such depositions under
   11         certain circumstances; revising factors to be
   12         considered by a court in a motion seeking to protect a
   13         victim or witness; revising provisions related to
   14         available relief; requiring the court to appoint a
   15         guardian ad litem or other advocate for the deponent
   16         under certain circumstances; authorizing the court to
   17         request the aid of an interpreter; requiring the court
   18         to make specific findings of fact on the record for
   19         certain orders and rulings; making technical changes;
   20         creating s. 1004.343, F.S.; creating the Statewide
   21         Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking Data
   22         at the University of South Florida; providing purposes
   23         of the data repository; specifying duties of the
   24         university; designating required reporting entities;
   25         requiring specified information to be reported;
   26         providing timeframes for reporting; providing an
   27         effective date.
   28          
   29  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         Section 1. Section 92.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   32  read:
   33         92.55 Judicial or other proceedings involving certain
   34  victims and witnesses victim or witness under the age of 18, a
   35  person who has an intellectual disability, or a sexual offense
   36  victim or witness; special protections; use of therapy animals
   37  or facility dogs.—
   38         (1) For purposes of this section, the term:
   39         (a)“Facility dog” means a dog that has been trained,
   40  evaluated, and certified as a facility dog pursuant to industry
   41  standards and provides unobtrusive emotional support to children
   42  and adults in facility settings.
   43         (c)(a) “Sexual offense victim or witness” means a person
   44  who was under the age of 18 when he or she was the victim of or
   45  a witness to a sexual offense.
   46         (b) “Sexual offense” means any offense specified in s.
   47  775.21(4)(a)1. or s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I).
   48         (d)“Therapy animal” means an animal that has been trained,
   49  evaluated, and certified as a therapy animal pursuant to
   50  industry standards by an organization that certifies animals as
   51  appropriate to provide animal therapy.
   52         (2) Upon motion of any party;, upon motion of a parent,
   53  guardian, attorney, guardian ad litem, or other advocate
   54  appointed by the court under s. 914.17 for a victim or witness
   55  under the age of 18, a person who has an intellectual
   56  disability, or a sexual offense victim; or witness, or upon its
   57  own motion, the court may enter any order necessary to protect
   58  the person victim or witness in any judicial proceeding or other
   59  official proceeding from moderate severe emotional or mental
   60  harm due to the presence of the defendant if the victim or
   61  witness is required to testify in open court. Such orders must
   62  relate to the taking of testimony and include, but are not
   63  limited to:
   64         (a) Interviewing or the taking of depositions as part of a
   65  civil or criminal proceeding.
   66         (b) Examination and cross-examination for the purpose of
   67  qualifying as a witness or testifying in any proceeding.
   68         (c) The use of testimony taken outside of the courtroom,
   69  including proceedings under ss. 92.53 and 92.54.
   70         (3)(a)Depositions are not allowed, except upon a showing
   71  of good cause, of victims or witnesses younger than the age of
   72  18, persons who have intellectual disabilities, or sexual
   73  offense victims in dependency proceedings related to abuse,
   74  abandonment, or neglect of children under chapter 39 or criminal
   75  proceedings involving any of the following:
   76         1. Any offense constituting domestic violence as defined in
   77  s. 741.28.
   78         2. Murder under s. 782.04.
   79         3. Manslaughter under s. 782.07.
   80         4. Aggravated cyberstalking under s. 784.048.
   81         5. Kidnapping under s. 787.01.
   82         6. False imprisonment under s. 787.02.
   83         7. Human trafficking under s. 787.06.
   84         8. Sexual battery under s. 794.011.
   85         9. Lewd or lascivious offenses under s. 800.04 or s.
   86  825.1025.
   87         10. Child abuse or neglect of a child under s. 827.03.
   88         11. Use of a child in a sexual performance under s.
   89  827.071.
   90         12. Computer pornography under s. 847.0135 or the
   91  transmission of pornography by electronic device or equipment
   92  under s. 847.0137.
   93         (b) Upon written motion and written findings that a
   94  deposition is necessary to assist a trial, that the evidence
   95  sought is not reasonably available by any other means, and that
   96  the probative value of the testimony outweighs the potential
   97  detriment to the person to be deposed, the court may authorize
   98  the taking of a deposition and may order protections deemed
   99  necessary, including those provided in this section.
  100         (4)(3) In ruling upon a the motion filed under this
  101  section, the court may shall consider:
  102         (a) The age of the victim or witness. child,
  103         (b) The nature of the offense or act.,
  104         (c) The complexity of the issues involved.
  105         (d) The relationship of the victim or witness child to the
  106  parties in the case or to the defendant in a criminal action.,
  107         (e) The degree of emotional or mental harm trauma that will
  108  result to the child as a consequence of the examination,
  109  interview, or testimony. defendant’s presence, and
  110         (f) The functional capacity of the victim or witness if he
  111  or she has an intellectual disability.
  112         (g) The age of the sexual offense victim when the sexual
  113  offense occurred.
  114         (h) Any other fact that the court deems relevant;
  115         (b) The age of the person who has an intellectual
  116  disability, the functional capacity of such person, the nature
  117  of the offenses or act, the relationship of the person to the
  118  parties in the case or to the defendant in a criminal action,
  119  the degree of emotional trauma that will result to the person as
  120  a consequence of the defendant’s presence, and any other fact
  121  that the court deems relevant; or
  122         (c) The age of the sexual offense victim or witness when
  123  the sexual offense occurred, the relationship of the sexual
  124  offense victim or witness to the parties in the case or to the
  125  defendant in a criminal action, the degree of emotional trauma
  126  that will result to the sexual offense victim or witness as a
  127  consequence of the defendant’s presence, and any other fact that
  128  the court deems relevant.
  129         (5)(4) In addition to such other relief provided by law,
  130  the court may enter orders it deems just and appropriate for the
  131  protection of limiting the number of times that a child, a
  132  person who has an intellectual disability, or a sexual offense
  133  victim, including limiting the number of times a victim or
  134  witness may be interviewed, limiting the length and scope of a
  135  deposition, requiring a deposition to be taken only by written
  136  questions, requiring a deposition to be in the presence of a
  137  trial judge or magistrate, sealing the tape or transcript of a
  138  deposition until further order of the court, allowing use of a
  139  therapy animal or facility dog prohibiting depositions of the
  140  victim or witness, requiring the submission of questions before
  141  the examination of the victim or witness, setting the place and
  142  conditions for interviewing the victim or witness or for
  143  conducting any other proceeding, or permitting or prohibiting
  144  the attendance of any person at any proceeding. The court shall
  145  enter any order necessary to protect the rights of all parties,
  146  including the defendant in any criminal action.
  147         (6) Section 794.022 applies to depositions taken pursuant
  148  to this section. If a deposition is taken pursuant to this
  149  section, the court must appoint a guardian ad litem or other
  150  advocate pursuant to s. 914.17 to represent the deponent for the
  151  purposes of the deposition if the deponent does not already have
  152  counsel.
  153         (7) The court, on its own motion or that of any party, may
  154  request the aid of an interpreter, as provided in s. 90.606, to
  155  aid the parties in formulating methods of questioning the child,
  156  the person who has an intellectual disability, or the sexual
  157  offense victim and in interpreting his or her answers during
  158  proceedings conducted under this section.
  159         (8) The court shall make specific findings of fact on the
  160  record as to the basis for its orders and rulings under this
  161  section.
  162         (5) The court may set any other conditions it finds just
  163  and appropriate when taking the testimony of a victim or witness
  164  under the age of 18, a person who has an intellectual
  165  disability, or a sexual offense victim or witness, including the
  166  use of a therapy animal or facility dog, in any proceeding
  167  involving a sexual offense or child abuse, abandonment, or
  168  neglect.
  169         (a) When deciding whether to permit a victim or witness
  170  under the age of 18, a person who has an intellectual
  171  disability, or a sexual offense victim or witness to testify
  172  with the assistance of a therapy animal or facility dog, the
  173  court shall consider the age of the child victim or witness, the
  174  age of the sexual offense victim or witness at the time the
  175  sexual offense occurred, the interests of the child victim or
  176  witness or sexual offense victim or witness, the rights of the
  177  parties to the litigation, and any other relevant factor that
  178  would facilitate the testimony by the victim or witness under
  179  the age of 18, person who has an intellectual disability, or
  180  sexual offense victim or witness.
  181         (b) For purposes of this subsection the term:
  182         1. “Facility dog” means a dog that has been trained,
  183  evaluated, and certified as a facility dog pursuant to industry
  184  standards and provides unobtrusive emotional support to children
  185  and adults in facility settings.
  186         2. “Therapy animal” means an animal that has been trained,
  187  evaluated, and certified as a therapy animal pursuant to
  188  industry standards by an organization that certifies animals as
  189  appropriate to provide animal therapy.
  190         Section 2. Section 1004.343, Florida Statutes, is created
  191  to read:
  192         1004.343 Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human
  193  Trafficking Data.—
  194         (1) There is created the Statewide Data Repository for
  195  Anonymous Human Trafficking Data. The repository shall be housed
  196  in and operated by the University of South Florida Trafficking
  197  in Persons - Risk to Resilience Lab.
  198         (a) The Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human
  199  Trafficking Data shall:
  200         1. Collect and analyze anonymous human trafficking data to
  201  identify trends in human trafficking in the state over time.
  202         2. Evaluate the effectiveness of various state-funded
  203  initiatives to combat human trafficking to enable the state to
  204  make evidence-based decisions in funding future initiatives.
  205         3. Disseminate relevant data to law enforcement agencies,
  206  state agencies, and other entities to assist in combating human
  207  trafficking and apprehending and prosecuting persons responsible
  208  for conducting human trafficking.
  209         4. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and services
  210  provided to assist human trafficking victims.
  211         (b) The University of South Florida Trafficking in Persons
  212  – Risk to Resilience Lab shall:
  213         1. Design, operate, maintain, and protect the integrity of
  214  the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking
  215  Data.
  216         2. Design, in consultation with the Department of Law
  217  Enforcement and other law enforcement partners, and launch a
  218  user-friendly system for efficiently reporting anonymous human
  219  trafficking data to the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous
  220  Human Trafficking Data at no additional cost to reporting
  221  entities.
  222         3. Analyze anonymous human trafficking data to identify
  223  initiatives and interventions that are effective in combating
  224  human trafficking, apprehending and prosecuting persons
  225  responsible for conducting human trafficking, and assisting
  226  human trafficking victims.
  227         4. Work with law enforcement agencies and state agencies to
  228  report data on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions
  229  which can aid such agencies in combating human trafficking and
  230  apprehending and prosecuting persons responsible for conducting
  231  human trafficking.
  232         (2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the following
  233  agencies and entities shall report anonymous human trafficking
  234  data required under this section:
  235         1. Law enforcement agencies operating with state or local
  236  government tax proceeds, including, but not limited to,
  237  municipal police departments, county sheriffs, and state
  238  attorneys.
  239         2. The Department of Law Enforcement and any other state
  240  agency that holds data related to human trafficking.
  241         3. Service providers and other nongovernmental
  242  organizations that serve human trafficking victims and receive
  243  state or federal funding for such purpose.
  244         (b) A required reporting entity that submits the data
  245  required under subsection (3) to the Department of Law
  246  Enforcement’s Uniform Crime Report system or Florida Incident
  247  Based Reporting System may, but is not required to, submit any
  248  additional data to the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous
  249  Human Trafficking Data. The Department of Law Enforcement shall
  250  report to the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human
  251  Trafficking Data, at least quarterly, the data required under
  252  subsection (3) that has been reported by a required reporting
  253  entity to the department.
  254         (3) A required reporting entity shall submit the following
  255  data to the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human
  256  Trafficking Data unless such entity is exempt from the reporting
  257  requirement under paragraph (2)(b):
  258         (a) The alleged human trafficking offense that was
  259  investigated or prosecuted and a description of the alleged
  260  prohibited conduct.
  261         (b) The age, gender, and race or ethnicity of each suspect
  262  or defendant and victim.
  263         (c) The date, time, and location of the alleged offense.
  264         (d) The type of human trafficking involved, whether for
  265  labor or services or commercial sexual activity.
  266         (e) Any other alleged offense related to the human
  267  trafficking offense that was investigated or prosecuted.
  268         (f) Information regarding any victim services organization
  269  or related program to which the victim was referred, if
  270  available.
  271         (g) The disposition of the investigation or prosecution,
  272  regardless of the manner of disposition.
  273         (4)(a) A required reporting entity located in a county with
  274  a population of more than 500,000 must begin reporting data
  275  required by this section to the Statewide Data Repository for
  276  Anonymous Human Trafficking Data, or to the Department of Law
  277  Enforcement as authorized under paragraph (2)(b), on or before
  278  July 1, 2023, and at least quarterly each year thereafter.
  279         (b) A required reporting entity located in a county with a
  280  population of 500,000 or fewer must begin reporting data
  281  required by this section to the Statewide Data Repository for
  282  Anonymous Human Trafficking Data, or to the Department of Law
  283  Enforcement as authorized under paragraph (2)(b), on or before
  284  July 1, 2024, and at least biannually each year thereafter.
  285         Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.