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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi today joined Senator Anitere Flores and Representative William Snyder to advocate for legislation to make Florida a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking. Senate Bill 1880, sponsored by Senator Flores and House Bill 7049, sponsored by Representative Snyder, will strengthen existing laws against human trafficking and curtail a 32-billion dollar industry that exploits men, women, and children.

“Human trafficking robs people of their dignity and deprives them of their most basic human rights,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I applaud Senator Flores and Representative Snyder for their commitment to making Florida a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking.”

This legislation will do the following:

· Combines Florida’s three existing human trafficking statutes into one statute making it more user-friendly for law enforcement;

· Increases penalties for trafficking to be on par with the penalties provided in federal human trafficking laws;
· Authorizes law enforcement agencies to request a judge’s permission to intercept oral and electronic communications related to human trafficking investigations;

· Provides that those convicted of human sex trafficking may be designated as sex offenders and sex predators;

· Provides that any property used for human trafficking is subject to forfeiture;

· Requires massage establishments/employees to present valid photo identification upon request; and

• Gives jurisdiction for human trafficking to the Statewide Prosecutor and the Statewide Grand Jury.