HB 469

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to human trafficking; amending s. 787.06,
3F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent;
4redefining the term "forced labor or services" to include
5labor coerced from a person when the person's
6identification documents are destroyed, concealed, or
7withheld by another; directing the Florida Court
8Educational Council to establish standards for instructing
9circuit and county court judges on matters relating to
10victims of human trafficking; directing the council to
11provide for periodic and timely instruction; amending s.
12772.102, F.S.; expanding the definition of the term
13"criminal activity" to include the offense of human
14trafficking for purposes of seeking civil remedies for
15criminal offenses; amending s. 895.02, F.S.; redefining
16the term "racketeering activity" to include the offense of
17human trafficking for purposes of the Florida RICO Act;
18reenacting ss. 16.56(1)(a), 655.50(3)(g), 896.101(2)(g),
19and 905.34, F.S., relating to the authority of the Office
20of the Statewide Prosecutor, the definition of "specified
21unlawful activity" in a law prohibiting money laundering
22in financial institutions and in the Florida Money
23Laundering Act, and the subject matter jurisdiction of a
24statewide grand jury, to incorporate the amendments made
25to s. 895.02, F.S., in references thereto; providing an
26effective date.
27
28Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30     Section 1.  Section 787.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to
31read:
32     787.06  Human trafficking.--
33     (1)(a)  The Legislature finds that human trafficking is a
34form of modern-day slavery. Victims of human trafficking are
35young children, teenagers, and adults. Thousands of victims are
36trafficked annually across international borders worldwide. Many
37of these victims are trafficked into this state. The Legislature
38finds that victims of human trafficking are subjected to force,
39fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or
40forced labor.
41     (b)  The Legislature finds that while many victims of human
42trafficking are forced to work in prostitution or the sexual
43entertainment industry, trafficking also occurs in forms of
44labor exploitation, such as domestic servitude, restaurant work,
45janitorial work, sweatshop factory work, and migrant
46agricultural work.
47     (c)  The Legislature finds that traffickers use various
48techniques to instill fear in victims and to keep them enslaved.
49Some traffickers keep their victims under lock and key. However,
50the most frequently used practices are less-obvious techniques
51that include isolating victims from the public and family
52members; confiscating passports, visas, or other identification
53documents; using or threatening to use violence toward victims
54or their families; telling victims that they will be imprisoned
55or deported for immigration violations if they contact
56authorities; and controlling the victims' funds by holding the
57money for "safekeeping."
58     (d)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
59perpetrators of human trafficking be penalized for their illegal
60conduct and that the victims of trafficking be protected and
61assisted by this state and its agencies. In furtherance of this
62policy, it is the intent of the Legislature that the State
63Supreme Court, The Florida Bar, and relevant state agencies
64prepare and implement training programs in order that judges,
65attorneys, law enforcement personnel, investigators, and others
66are able to identify traffickers and victims of human
67trafficking and direct victims to appropriate agencies for
68assistance. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
69Department of Children and Family Services and other state
70agencies cooperate with other state and federal agencies to
71ensure that victims of human trafficking can access social
72services and benefits to alleviate their plight.
73     (2)(1)  As used in this section, the term:
74     (a)  "Forced labor or services" means labor or services
75obtained from a person by:
76     1.  Using or threatening to use physical force against that
77person or another person; or
78     2.  Restraining, isolating, or confining or threatening to
79restrain, isolate, or confine that person or another person
80without lawful authority and against her or his will; or.
81     3.  Destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating,
82withholding, or possessing any actual or purported passport,
83visa, or other immigration document, or any other actual or
84purported government identification document, of that person or
85another person.
86     (b)  "Human trafficking" means transporting, soliciting,
87recruiting, harboring, providing, or obtaining another person
88for transport.
89     (3)(2)  Any person who knowingly engages in human
90trafficking with the intent that the trafficked person engage in
91forced labor or services commits a felony of the second degree,
92punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
93     (4)  The Florida Court Educational Council shall establish
94standards of instruction for circuit and county court judges who
95hear cases involving victims of human trafficking and shall
96provide for periodic and timely instruction.
97     Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 772.102, Florida
98Statutes, is amended to read:
99     772.102  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:
100     (1)  "Criminal activity" means to commit, to attempt to
101commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or
102intimidate another person to commit:
103     (a)  Any crime that which is chargeable by indictment or
104information under the following provisions:
105     1.  Section 210.18, relating to evasion of payment of
106cigarette taxes.
107     2.  Section 414.39, relating to public assistance fraud.
108     3.  Section 440.105 or s. 440.106, relating to workers'
109compensation.
110     4.  Part IV of chapter 501, relating to telemarketing.
111     5.  Chapter 517, relating to securities transactions.
112     6.  Section 550.235, s. 550.3551, or s. 550.3605, relating
113to dogracing and horseracing.
114     7.  Chapter 550, relating to jai alai frontons.
115     8.  Chapter 552, relating to the manufacture, distribution,
116and use of explosives.
117     9.  Chapter 562, relating to beverage law enforcement.
118     10.  Section 624.401, relating to transacting insurance
119without a certificate of authority, s. 624.437(4)(c)1., relating
120to operating an unauthorized multiple-employer welfare
121arrangement, or s. 626.902(1)(b), relating to representing or
122aiding an unauthorized insurer.
123     11.  Chapter 687, relating to interest and usurious
124practices.
125     12.  Section 721.08, s. 721.09, or s. 721.13, relating to
126real estate timeshare plans.
127     13.  Chapter 782, relating to homicide.
128     14.  Chapter 784, relating to assault and battery.
129     15.  Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping or human
130trafficking.
131     16.  Chapter 790, relating to weapons and firearms.
132     17.  Section 796.03, s. 796.04, s. 796.05, or s. 796.07,
133relating to prostitution.
134     18.  Chapter 806, relating to arson.
135     19.  Section 810.02(2)(c), relating to specified burglary
136of a dwelling or structure.
137     20.  Chapter 812, relating to theft, robbery, and related
138crimes.
139     21.  Chapter 815, relating to computer-related crimes.
140     22.  Chapter 817, relating to fraudulent practices, false
141pretenses, fraud generally, and credit card crimes.
142     23.  Section 827.071, relating to commercial sexual
143exploitation of children.
144     24.  Chapter 831, relating to forgery and counterfeiting.
145     25.  Chapter 832, relating to issuance of worthless checks
146and drafts.
147     26.  Section 836.05, relating to extortion.
148     27.  Chapter 837, relating to perjury.
149     28.  Chapter 838, relating to bribery and misuse of public
150office.
151     29.  Chapter 843, relating to obstruction of justice.
152     30.  Section 847.011, s. 847.012, s. 847.013, s. 847.06, or
153s. 847.07, relating to obscene literature and profanity.
154     31.  Section 849.09, s. 849.14, s. 849.15, s. 849.23, or s.
155849.25, relating to gambling.
156     32.  Chapter 893, relating to drug abuse prevention and
157control.
158     33.  Section 914.22 or s. 914.23, relating to witnesses,
159victims, or informants.
160     34.  Section 918.12 or s. 918.13, relating to tampering
161with jurors and evidence.
162     (b)  Any conduct which is subject to indictment or
163information as a criminal offense and listed in 18 U.S.C. s.
1641961(1) (A), (B), (C), or (D).
165     Section 3.  Subsection (1) of section 895.02, Florida
166Statutes, is amended to read:
167     895.02  Definitions.--As used in ss. 895.01-895.08, the
168term:
169     (1)  "Racketeering activity" means to commit, to attempt to
170commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or
171intimidate another person to commit:
172     (a)  Any crime that which is chargeable by indictment or
173information under the following provisions of the Florida
174Statutes:
175     1.  Section 210.18, relating to evasion of payment of
176cigarette taxes.
177     2.  Section 403.727(3)(b), relating to environmental
178control.
179     3.  Section 409.920 or s. 409.9201, relating to Medicaid
180fraud.
181     4.  Section 414.39, relating to public assistance fraud.
182     5.  Section 440.105 or s. 440.106, relating to workers'
183compensation.
184     6.  Section 443.071(4), relating to creation of a
185fictitious employer scheme to commit unemployment compensation
186fraud.
187     7.  Section 465.0161, relating to distribution of medicinal
188drugs without a permit as an Internet pharmacy.
189     8.  Sections 499.0051, 499.0052, 499.00535, 499.00545, and
190499.0691, relating to crimes involving contraband and
191adulterated drugs.
192     9.  Part IV of chapter 501, relating to telemarketing.
193     10.  Chapter 517, relating to sale of securities and
194investor protection.
195     11.  Section 550.235, s. 550.3551, or s. 550.3605, relating
196to dogracing and horseracing.
197     12.  Chapter 550, relating to jai alai frontons.
198     13.  Chapter 552, relating to the manufacture,
199distribution, and use of explosives.
200     14.  Chapter 560, relating to money transmitters, if the
201violation is punishable as a felony.
202     15.  Chapter 562, relating to beverage law enforcement.
203     16.  Section 624.401, relating to transacting insurance
204without a certificate of authority, s. 624.437(4)(c)1., relating
205to operating an unauthorized multiple-employer welfare
206arrangement, or s. 626.902(1)(b), relating to representing or
207aiding an unauthorized insurer.
208     17.  Section 655.50, relating to reports of currency
209transactions, when such violation is punishable as a felony.
210     18.  Chapter 687, relating to interest and usurious
211practices.
212     19.  Section 721.08, s. 721.09, or s. 721.13, relating to
213real estate timeshare plans.
214     20.  Chapter 782, relating to homicide.
215     21.  Chapter 784, relating to assault and battery.
216     22.  Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping or human
217trafficking.
218     23.  Chapter 790, relating to weapons and firearms.
219     24.  Section 796.03, s. 796.035, s. 796.04, s. 796.045, s.
220796.05, or s. 796.07, relating to prostitution and sex
221trafficking.
222     25.  Chapter 806, relating to arson.
223     26.  Section 810.02(2)(c), relating to specified burglary
224of a dwelling or structure.
225     27.  Chapter 812, relating to theft, robbery, and related
226crimes.
227     28.  Chapter 815, relating to computer-related crimes.
228     29.  Chapter 817, relating to fraudulent practices, false
229pretenses, fraud generally, and credit card crimes.
230     30.  Chapter 825, relating to abuse, neglect, or
231exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
232     31.  Section 827.071, relating to commercial sexual
233exploitation of children.
234     32.  Chapter 831, relating to forgery and counterfeiting.
235     33.  Chapter 832, relating to issuance of worthless checks
236and drafts.
237     34.  Section 836.05, relating to extortion.
238     35.  Chapter 837, relating to perjury.
239     36.  Chapter 838, relating to bribery and misuse of public
240office.
241     37.  Chapter 843, relating to obstruction of justice.
242     38.  Section 847.011, s. 847.012, s. 847.013, s. 847.06, or
243s. 847.07, relating to obscene literature and profanity.
244     39.  Section 849.09, s. 849.14, s. 849.15, s. 849.23, or s.
245849.25, relating to gambling.
246     40.  Chapter 874, relating to criminal street gangs.
247     41.  Chapter 893, relating to drug abuse prevention and
248control.
249     42.  Chapter 896, relating to offenses related to financial
250transactions.
251     43.  Sections 914.22 and 914.23, relating to tampering with
252a witness, victim, or informant, and retaliation against a
253witness, victim, or informant.
254     44.  Sections 918.12 and 918.13, relating to tampering with
255jurors and evidence.
256     (b)  Any conduct defined as "racketeering activity" under
25718 U.S.C. s. 1961(1).
258     Section 4.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
259made by this act to section 895.02, Florida Statutes, in a
260reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
26116.56, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
262     16.56  Office of Statewide Prosecution.--
263     (1)  There is created in the Department of Legal Affairs an
264Office of Statewide Prosecution. The office shall be a separate
265"budget entity" as that term is defined in chapter 216. The
266office may:
267     (a)  Investigate and prosecute the offenses of:
268     1.  Bribery, burglary, criminal usury, extortion, gambling,
269kidnapping, larceny, murder, prostitution, perjury, robbery,
270carjacking, and home-invasion robbery;
271     2.  Any crime involving narcotic or other dangerous drugs;
272     3.  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida RICO
273(Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act, including
274any offense listed in the definition of racketeering activity in
275s. 895.02(1)(a), providing such listed offense is investigated
276in connection with a violation of s. 895.03 and is charged in a
277separate count of an information or indictment containing a
278count charging a violation of s. 895.03, the prosecution of
279which listed offense may continue independently if the
280prosecution of the violation of s. 895.03 is terminated for any
281reason;
282     4.  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida Anti-
283Fencing Act;
284     5.  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida
285Antitrust Act of 1980, as amended;
286     6.  Any crime involving, or resulting in, fraud or deceit
287upon any person;
288     7.  Any violation of s. 847.0135, relating to computer
289pornography and child exploitation prevention, or any offense
290related to a violation of s. 847.0135;
291     8.  Any violation of the provisions of chapter 815;
292     9.  Any criminal violation of part I of chapter 499;
293     10.  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida Motor
294Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2004;
295     11.  Any criminal violation of s. 409.920 or s. 409.9201;
296or
297     12.  Any crime involving voter registration, voting, or
298candidate or issue petition activities;
299
300or any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any of the
301crimes specifically enumerated above. The office shall have such
302power only when any such offense is occurring, or has occurred,
303in two or more judicial circuits as part of a related
304transaction, or when any such offense is connected with an
305organized criminal conspiracy affecting two or more judicial
306circuits.
307     Section 5.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
308made by this act to section 895.02, Florida Statutes, in a
309reference thereto, paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section
310655.50, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
311     655.50  Florida Control of Money Laundering in Financial
312Institutions Act; reports of transactions involving currency or
313monetary instruments; when required; purpose; definitions;
314penalties.--
315     (3)  As used in this section, the term:
316     (g)  "Specified unlawful activity" means any "racketeering
317activity" as defined in s. 895.02.
318     Section 6.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
319made by this act to section 895.02, Florida Statutes, in a
320reference thereto, paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
321896.101, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
322     896.101  Florida Money Laundering Act; definitions;
323penalties; injunctions; seizure warrants; immunity.--
324     (2)  As used in this section, the term:
325     (g)  "Specified unlawful activity" means any "racketeering
326activity" as defined in s. 895.02.
327     Section 7.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
328made by this act to section 895.02, Florida Statutes, in a
329reference thereto, section 905.34, Florida Statutes, is
330reenacted to read:
331     905.34  Powers and duties; law applicable.--The
332jurisdiction of a statewide grand jury impaneled under this
333chapter shall extend throughout the state. The subject matter
334jurisdiction of the statewide grand jury shall be limited to the
335offenses of:
336     (1)  Bribery, burglary, carjacking, home-invasion robbery,
337criminal usury, extortion, gambling, kidnapping, larceny,
338murder, prostitution, perjury, and robbery;
339     (2)  Crimes involving narcotic or other dangerous drugs;
340     (3)  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida RICO
341(Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act, including
342any offense listed in the definition of racketeering activity in
343s. 895.02(1)(a), providing such listed offense is investigated
344in connection with a violation of s. 895.03 and is charged in a
345separate count of an information or indictment containing a
346count charging a violation of s. 895.03, the prosecution of
347which listed offense may continue independently if the
348prosecution of the violation of s. 895.03 is terminated for any
349reason;
350     (4)  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida Anti-
351Fencing Act;
352     (5)  Any violation of the provisions of the Florida
353Antitrust Act of 1980, as amended;
354     (6)  Any violation of the provisions of chapter 815;
355     (7)  Any crime involving, or resulting in, fraud or deceit
356upon any person;
357     (8)  Any violation of s. 847.0135, s. 847.0137, or s.
358847.0138 relating to computer pornography and child exploitation
359prevention, or any offense related to a violation of s.
360847.0135, s. 847.0137, or s. 847.0138;
361     (9)  Any criminal violation of part I of chapter 499; or
362     (10)  Any criminal violation of s. 409.920 or s. 409.9201;
363
364or any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any
365violation of the crimes specifically enumerated above, when any
366such offense is occurring, or has occurred, in two or more
367judicial circuits as part of a related transaction or when any
368such offense is connected with an organized criminal conspiracy
369affecting two or more judicial circuits.  The statewide grand
370jury may return indictments and presentments irrespective of the
371county or judicial circuit where the offense is committed or
372triable.  If an indictment is returned, it shall be certified
373and transferred for trial to the county where the offense was
374committed.  The powers and duties of, and law applicable to,
375county grand juries shall apply to a statewide grand jury except
376when such powers, duties, and law are inconsistent with the
377provisions of ss. 905.31-905.40.
378     Section 8.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2006.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.