Bill > H0989

This bill aims to strengthen protections against human trafficking and exploitation by making several key changes to Florida law. It expands the confidentiality of court records to include human trafficking cases, similar to how records involving child victims are protected, and prohibits the employment of minors in adult theaters. Crucially, it removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking offenses, meaning individuals can be charged at any time. The bill also repeals outdated laws related to procuring minors for prostitution and selling or buying minors into prostitution, consolidating these offenses under broader human trafficking provisions. Furthermore, it allows victims of human trafficking to have certain criminal charges expunged (removed from their record) if those charges arose from their victimization and did not result in a conviction, providing a pathway for victims to clear their names and move forward. The bill also enhances penalties for certain human trafficking offenses, clarifies definitions related to human trafficking, and makes provisions for relocation assistance for victims. Finally, it updates various statutes to reflect these changes, including those related to criminal punishment, evidence, and sexual offender registration.