During 2019 Florida legislative session, legislators passed House Bill 851 which became effective July 1, 2019, as section 456.0341, Florida Statutes. The statute requires certain licenses to attend instruction on human trafficking, requires specified licensees or certificate holders to post human trafficking public awareness signs in place of work, provides penalties, and requires specified continuing education requirements for certain persons. Additionally, the Board of Podiatric Medicine revised rule 64B18-17.001, Florida Administrative Code, to require completion of the course by new applicants in their first renewal biennium as well as of licensees renewing to active status if the course has not already been taken. This course is required to be completed one-time to meet the statute and rule requirements.
Section 456.0341, Florida Statutes – Requirements for Instruction on Human Trafficking, applies to each person licensed or certified under chapter 461, Florida Statutes, and establishes a deadline of January 1, 2021, to complete a board-approved, or department-approved if there is no board, a 1-hour continuing education course on human trafficking. The course must address both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, how to identify individuals who may be victims of human trafficking, how to report cases of human trafficking, and resources available to victims.
By January 1, 2021, the licensees or certificate holders shall post in their place of work in a conspicuous place accessible to employees, a sign at least 11 inches by 15 inches in size, printed in a clearly legible font and in at least a 32-point type, which substantially states in English and Spanish the following:
“If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave, whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and Florida law.”
To review section 456.0341, Florida Statutes, please click here. To review additional information on human trafficking, the Department of Health has developed an informational website, which can be visited at: https://www.flhealthsource.gov/humantrafficking/
