Florida Senate - 2025 SB 240
By Senator Berman
26-00221A-25 2025240__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to victims of domestic violence and
3 dating violence; creating s. 741.317, F.S.; providing
4 a short title; creating the Helping Abuse Victims
5 Escape Now (HAVEN) Coordinating Council within the
6 Department of Law Enforcement; requiring the
7 department to provide certain services; defining
8 terms; specifying the composition of the coordinating
9 council; providing requirements for member
10 appointments, election of a chair, and meetings;
11 requiring that member appointments be completed and
12 the first meeting of the coordinating council be held
13 by a date certain; specifying duties of the
14 coordinating council; requiring the coordinating
15 council to submit certain reports to specified
16 entities and persons, the Governor, and the
17 Legislature by a specified date; providing for funding
18 of the coordinating council; specifying that the act
19 supersedes certain local regulations; providing for
20 expiration of the coordinating council; amending s.
21 741.402, F.S.; defining the term “dating violence”;
22 amending s. 741.403, F.S.; providing that victims of
23 dating violence may apply to participate in the
24 Attorney General’s address confidentiality program;
25 amending ss. 741.465, 741.4651, and 960.001, F.S.;
26 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
27 providing an effective date.
28
29 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
30
31 Section 1. Section 741.317, Florida Statutes, is created to
32 read:
33 741.317 Helping Abuse Victims Escape Now Act; coordinating
34 council; membership; duties; reports; funding; preemption.—
35 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Helping
36 Abuse Victims Escape Now (HAVEN) Act.”
37 (2) CREATION.—The HAVEN Coordinating Council, a
38 coordinating council as defined in s. 20.03, is created within
39 the Department of Law Enforcement. The Department of Law
40 Enforcement shall provide administrative and staff support
41 services relating to the functions of the coordinating council.
42 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
43 (a) “Dating violence” has the same meaning as in s.
44 784.046(1)(d).
45 (b) “Domestic violence” has the same meaning as in s.
46 741.28.
47 (c) “Dynamic website” means a website that generates
48 webpages in real time and which can change its content and
49 layout depending on various parameters such as user preferences,
50 time of day, and location.
51 (4) MEMBERSHIP; MEETINGS.—
52 (a) The HAVEN Coordinating Council is composed of the
53 following members:
54 1. A representative from the Department of Law Enforcement,
55 appointed by the executive director of the Department of Law
56 Enforcement.
57 2. A representative from a local law enforcement agency,
58 appointed by the sheriff of the county in which the law
59 enforcement agency is located.
60 3. A representative from a victim services program,
61 appointed by the secretary of the Department of Children and
62 Families.
63 4. A representative from a domestic violence advocacy
64 group, appointed by the secretary of the Department of Children
65 and Families.
66 5. An expert in technology matters, appointed jointly by
67 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
68 Representatives.
69 6. An attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and
70 who is a member of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar,
71 appointed by the president of The Florida Bar.
72 7. Any other representative as determined by the HAVEN
73 Coordinating Council, appointed by the chair of the council.
74 (b) Appointments to the HAVEN Coordinating Council must be
75 made by September 1, 2025. Each member serves at the pleasure of
76 the official who appointed the member. A vacancy on the
77 coordinating council must be filled in the same manner as the
78 original appointment.
79 (c) The coordinating council shall elect a chair from among
80 its members.
81 (d) The first meeting of the coordinating council must be
82 held no later than October 1, 2025. The coordinating council may
83 hold its meetings through teleconference or other electronic
84 means.
85 (5) DUTIES.—The HAVEN Coordinating Council shall:
86 (a) Develop a dynamic website with all of the following
87 functions:
88 1. The ability to synchronize with law enforcement
89 databases to ensure real-time data sharing and updates.
90 2. The ability to allow a person using the dynamic website
91 to generate a unique phone number from which the user can call a
92 911 emergency telephone number when he or she is in need of
93 assistance from law enforcement.
94 3. The ability for a user to choose a personalized
95 numerical code or phrase that discreetly alerts a law
96 enforcement agency or sheriff’s office when the user calls his
97 or her uniquely generated phone number.
98 4. The ability to automatically transmit specified data to
99 a law enforcement agency or sheriff’s office when a user calls
100 his or her generated phone number and uses his or her
101 personalized numerical code or phrase, which then triggers the
102 immediate dispatch of a law enforcement officer or sheriff to
103 the user’s location.
104 (b) Establish a public awareness campaign to inform the
105 public about the dynamic website and its features.
106 (c) Coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and
107 sheriffs to develop and implement a training program to ensure
108 law enforcement officers are equipped to respond swiftly and
109 effectively to alerts that are generated through the dynamic
110 website.
111 (d) Meet at least quarterly to review relevant data,
112 identify trends, and determine alternative or additional avenues
113 of support for victims of domestic violence or dating violence.
114 (6) REPORTS.—The HAVEN Coordinating Council shall:
115 (a) Provide quarterly reports to local law enforcement
116 agencies and sheriff’s offices.
117 (b) By November 1 of each year, beginning in 2026, submit
118 to the Governor, the Attorney General, the executive director of
119 the Department of Law Enforcement, the President of the Senate,
120 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report that
121 compiles the progress and cost breakdowns relating to the
122 establishment of the dynamic website and, once the dynamic
123 website is functioning, statistics relating to the usage and
124 effectiveness of the website and the effectiveness of the
125 coordinating council.
126 (7) FUNDING.—
127 (a) The Legislature may appropriate funds annually to the
128 Department of Law Enforcement to be used to implement this act.
129 (b) The HAVEN Coordinating Council may apply for and
130 receive grants and accept donations to support the development
131 and maintenance of the dynamic website.
132 (8) PREEMPTION.—This section supersedes any local
133 government regulations on matters covered under this section. A
134 local government or political subdivision may not administer,
135 implement, or enforce any law, rule, regulation, standard, or
136 provision that conflicts with this section.
137 (9) REPEAL.—In accordance with s. 20.052(8), this section
138 is repealed October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from
139 repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
140 Section 2. Section 741.402, Florida Statutes, is amended to
141 read:
142 741.402 Definitions; ss. 741.401-741.409.—Unless the
143 context clearly requires otherwise, as used in ss. 741.401
144 741.409, the term:
145 (1) “Address” means a residential street address, school
146 address, or work address of an individual, as specified on the
147 individual’s application to be a program participant under ss.
148 741.401-741.409.
149 (2) “Dating violence” means an act as defined in s.
150 784.046(1)(a) and includes a threat of such acts committed
151 against an individual in a continuing and significant
152 relationship as determined by the factors listed in s.
153 784.046(1)(d), regardless of whether these acts or threats have
154 been reported to law enforcement officers.
155 (3) “Domestic violence” means an act as defined in s.
156 741.28 and includes a threat of such acts committed against an
157 individual in a domestic situation, regardless of whether these
158 acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.
159 (4)(2) “Program participant” means a person certified as a
160 program participant under s. 741.403.
161 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
162 section 741.403, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
163 741.403 Address confidentiality program; application;
164 certification.—
165 (1) An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf
166 of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of a person
167 adjudicated incapacitated under chapter 744 may apply to the
168 Attorney General to have an address designated by the Attorney
169 General serve as the person’s address or the address of the
170 minor or incapacitated person. To the extent possible within
171 funds appropriated for this purpose, the Attorney General shall
172 approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the
173 form prescribed by the Attorney General and if it contains all
174 of the following:
175 (a) A sworn statement by the applicant that the applicant
176 has good reason to believe that the applicant, or the minor or
177 incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is
178 a victim of domestic violence or dating violence, and that the
179 applicant fears for his or her safety or his or her children’s
180 safety or the safety of the minor or incapacitated person on
181 whose behalf the application is made.
182 (d) A statement that the new address or addresses that the
183 applicant requests must not be disclosed for the reason that
184 disclosure will increase the risk of domestic violence or dating
185 violence.
186 Section 4. Section 741.465, Florida Statutes, is amended to
187 read:
188 741.465 Public records exemption for the Address
189 Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence.—
190 (1) For purposes of this section, the term “address” means
191 a residential street address, school address, or work address,
192 as specified on the individual’s application to be a program
193 participant in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims
194 of Violence.
195 (2)(1) The addresses, corresponding telephone numbers, and
196 social security numbers of program participants in the Address
197 Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence held by
198 the Office of the Attorney General are exempt from s. 119.07(1)
199 and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, except the
200 information may be disclosed under the following circumstances:
201 to a law enforcement agency for purposes of assisting in the
202 execution of a valid arrest warrant; if directed by a court
203 order, to a person identified in the order; or if the
204 certification has been canceled. For purposes of this section,
205 the term “address” means a residential street address, school
206 address, or work address, as specified on the individual’s
207 application to be a program participant in the Address
208 Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Violence.
209 (3)(2) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of
210 participants in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims
211 of Domestic Violence contained in voter registration and voting
212 records held by the supervisor of elections and the Department
213 of State are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of
214 the State Constitution, except the information may be disclosed
215 under the following circumstances: to a law enforcement agency
216 for purposes of assisting in the execution of an arrest warrant
217 or, if directed by a court order, to a person identified in the
218 order. This exemption applies to information made exempt by this
219 subsection before, on, or after the effective date of the
220 exemption.
221 Section 5. Section 741.4651, Florida Statutes, is amended
222 to read:
223 741.4651 Public records exemption; victims of stalking or
224 aggravated stalking.—The names, addresses, and telephone numbers
225 of persons who are victims of stalking or aggravated stalking
226 are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
227 Constitution in the same manner that the names, addresses, and
228 telephone numbers of participants in the Address Confidentiality
229 Program for Victims of Domestic Violence which are held by the
230 Attorney General under s. 741.465 are exempt from disclosure,
231 provided that the victim files a sworn statement of stalking
232 with the Office of the Attorney General and otherwise complies
233 with the procedures in ss. 741.401-741.409.
234 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
235 960.001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
236 960.001 Guidelines for fair treatment of victims and
237 witnesses in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems.—
238 (1) The Department of Legal Affairs, the state attorneys,
239 the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile
240 Justice, the Florida Commission on Offender Review, the State
241 Courts Administrator and circuit court administrators, the
242 Department of Law Enforcement, and every sheriff’s department,
243 police department, or other law enforcement agency as defined in
244 s. 943.10(4) shall develop and implement guidelines for the use
245 of their respective agencies, which guidelines are consistent
246 with the purposes of this act and s. 16(b), Art. I of the State
247 Constitution and are designed to implement s. 16(b), Art. I of
248 the State Constitution and to achieve the following objectives:
249 (c) Information concerning protection available to victim
250 or witness.—A victim or witness shall be furnished, as a matter
251 of course, with information on steps that are available to law
252 enforcement officers and state attorneys to protect victims and
253 witnesses from intimidation. Victims of domestic violence and
254 dating violence shall also be given information about the
255 address confidentiality program provided under s. 741.403.
256 Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.