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Rick Scott, Governor
Press Release
Gov. Scott signs 16 bills into law, including one to fight human trafficking
Governor Scott Signs Legislation to Fight Human Trafficking
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, Governor Rick Scott signed HB 545 into law which establishes harsher penalties for individuals who commit human trafficking and protects victimized children from being convicted for criminal charges.
Governor Scott said:
“I am proud to sign this important legislation into law today so we can better protect victims of human trafficking in Florida and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. While we have made tremendous progress in Florida to fight the evil of human trafficking, even one victim of this unfathomable crime is too many. I appreciate the hard work of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Florida Legislature for their efforts to combat human trafficking in Florida, and we will continue to do all we can to end human trafficking and care for victims.”
DJJ Secretary Christina Daly said:
“Many don’t realize that human trafficking exists right here in our own state and communities. This legislation moves us one step closer to ending human trafficking in Florida by implementing harsher punishments for human traffickers and ensuring that our state’s most vulnerable are protected from further exploitation. I’m thankful to Governor Scott for signing HB 545 into law today to keep our children and families safe.”
DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said:
“This bill ensures that victims of human trafficking aren’t unfairly punished for their abuse but rescued and restored, and also provides harsher penalties for perpetrators to make sure they are fully punished for this crime. Together, we can end this terrible crime from happening in Florida and help rescue and restore individuals trapped in exploitation.”
Also on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, Governor Rick Scott signed the following 15 bills into law.
- HB 59 Agritourism – This bill prohibits local governments from enforcing regulations that limit agritourism and expands the definition of agritourism.
- HB 75 Electronic Monitoring Devices – This bill makes it a felony to remove or tamper with an electronic monitoring device required by a court order.
- HB 91 Severe Injuries Caused by Dogs – This bill allows additional factors to be considered in legal proceedings regarding dogs that have caused severe injuries.
- HB 127 Continuing Care Facilities – This bill provides two additional options for a nursing home to satisfy financial requirements of the Gold Seal Program.
- HB 131 Unattended Persons and Animals in Motor Vehicles – This bill provides civil immunity to rescuers who enter a vehicle to save vulnerable individuals or animals.
- HB 241 Children and Youth Cabinet – This bill revises the membership of the Children & Youth Cabinet to include a school superintendent.
- HB 273 Relating to Public Records – This bill creates a more specified process for requesting public records from a contractor for public services.
- HB 381 Relating to Public Records – This bill revises the current public records exemption to protect additional information obtained by the Florida State Boxing Commission.
- HB 479 Special Districts – This bill increases oversight and accountability of special districts.
- HB 541 Addresses of Legal Residence – This bill relates to voter registration applications.
- HB 5103 Alzheimer’s Disease Research – This bill carries over any unexpended balance of appropriation for the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program.
- HB 7023 Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Deployed Servicemembers – This bill qualifies additional deployed servicemembers for an ad valorem tax exemption.
- HB 7033 A Review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act – This bill reenacts an existing public records exemption.
- HB 7035 A Review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act – This bill reenacts a public records exemption for certain investigative information held by the Office of Financial Regulation.
- HB 7091 Trust Funds – This bill terminates specified trust funds in the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health.
