Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 502
       
       
        
       By Senator Stewart
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00331A-24                                           2024502__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to human trafficking; amending s.
    3         787.29, F.S.; requiring the employer at an athletic
    4         venue, an entertainment venue, or a convention center
    5         with a certain capacity to display a human trafficking
    6         public awareness sign in a conspicuous location that
    7         is clearly visible to the public and employees;
    8         defining the term “entertainment venue”; authorizing
    9         sheriffs to identify locations within specified
   10         establishments which are appropriate for the display
   11         of public awareness signs and to post such signs as
   12         they deem appropriate; making technical changes;
   13         amending s. 943.17297, F.S.; increasing the number of
   14         training hours in identifying and investigating human
   15         trafficking which each certified law enforcement
   16         officer must successfully complete as part of
   17         specified training; providing an effective date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Section 787.29, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   22  read:
   23         787.29 Human trafficking public awareness signs.—
   24         (1) The Department of Transportation shall display a public
   25  awareness sign developed under this section subsection (4) in
   26  every rest area, turnpike service plaza, weigh station, primary
   27  airport, passenger rail station, and welcome center in the state
   28  which is open to the public.
   29         (2) Emergency rooms shall display a public awareness sign
   30  developed under this section subsection (4) in the emergency
   31  rooms at general acute care hospitals.
   32         (3)(a) The employer at each of the following establishments
   33  shall display a public awareness sign developed under this
   34  section subsection (4) in a conspicuous location that is clearly
   35  visible to the public and employees of the establishment:
   36         1. A strip club or other adult entertainment establishment.
   37         2. A business or establishment that offers massage or
   38  bodywork services for compensation and that is not owned by a
   39  health care practitioner regulated pursuant to chapter 456 and
   40  defined in s. 456.001.
   41         3. An athletic venue, an entertainment venue, or a
   42  convention center, any of which is capable of accommodating
   43  5,000 or more persons. As used in this subparagraph, the term
   44  “entertainment venue” means any public facility that offers
   45  services or holds events, performances, or activities for
   46  enjoyment or amusement and is used for commercial or industrial
   47  purposes. The term does not include overnight lodging or casinos
   48  but may include performing arts centers, arenas, racetracks,
   49  coliseums, auditoriums, theme or amusement parks, museums,
   50  cultural complexes, or other similar facilities.
   51         (b) The county commission may adopt an ordinance to enforce
   52  this subsection. A violation of this subsection is a noncriminal
   53  violation, and punishable by a fine only as provided in s.
   54  775.083.
   55         (4) Each sheriff may identify locations within
   56  establishments identified in subsection (3) appropriate for the
   57  display of a public awareness sign developed under this section
   58  and may post such signs as he or she deems appropriate at such
   59  establishments which are within his or her jurisdiction.
   60         (5) The required public awareness sign must be at least 8.5
   61  inches by 11 inches in size, must be printed in at least a 16
   62  point type, and must state substantially the following in
   63  English and Spanish:
   64  
   65         “If you or someone you know is being forced to engage
   66         in an activity and cannot leave—whether it is
   67         prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work,
   68         retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity
   69         call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at
   70         1-888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to
   71         access help and services. Victims of slavery and human
   72         trafficking are protected under United States and
   73         Florida law.”
   74         Section 2. Section 943.17297, Florida Statutes, is amended
   75  to read:
   76         943.17297 Training in identifying and investigating human
   77  trafficking.—Each certified law enforcement officer must
   78  successfully complete 8 4 hours of training in identifying and
   79  investigating human trafficking as part of the basic recruit
   80  training of the officer required in s. 943.13(9) or additional
   81  training required in s. 943.131(4). The training must be
   82  developed by the commission in consultation with the Department
   83  of Legal Affairs and the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.
   84         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.