DeSantis visits church in Broward to sign 4 bills on human trafficking into law

DeSantis signs 4 bills at Coastal Community Church in Lighthouse Point

LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis is visiting a church on Tuesday morning in northeastern Broward County to sign four bills that he said will help stop human trafficking.

DeSantis was at the Coastal Community Church in Lighthouse Point, a suburb just west of Hillsboro Beach. The Christian church, at 3901 NE 22 Ave., is behind the Trinity Learning Center and the Trinity Christian School.

“What we have seen across the country, including here in Florida, is rates of human trafficking increasing,” DeSantis said. “Last year, there was a 50% increase in trafficking arrests nationwide.”

Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, Florida Rep. Paul Renner, and Shevaun Harris, the Florida Department of Children and Families secretary, were also there to witness the signing of the bills.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs four bills on Tuesday at a church in Broward County. (Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.)

DeSantis signed four bills, including SB 7064 and SB 1690, which he said will allow human trafficking victims to seek restitution against their traffickers and adult entertainment establishments and establish an anti-human trafficking education program at treatment and foster centers.

“Under current law, you know, they kind of follow it, and then they get a slap on the wrist and all that. We’re done with that,” DeSantis said. “If you’re in violation, you have a small period to cure and every day beyond that, that you don’t cure, you’ll be liable for thousands of dollars in fines every day.”

DeSantis said he also signed HB 1465 and SB 1210 into law to set minimum sentences for convicted armed human traffickers and to protect the privacy of human trafficking victims.

EDUCATION LAWS

On Monday, DeSantis visited the New College of Florida in Sarasota to sign legislation banning the use of state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion education programs.

DeSantis also included conservative activist Christopher Rufo, of California, who is known for his nationwide initiative against critical race theory, as his New College board appointee.

Rufo, who said he lives in Seattle, praised DeSantis’s education policy, which has restricted education on race and LGBTQ issues, as “once-in-a-generation reforms.”

Watch DeSantis’s speech

Watch Moody’s speech

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About the Authors
Trent Kelly headshot

Trent Kelly is an award-winning multimedia journalist who joined the Local 10 News team in June 2018. Trent is no stranger to Florida. Born in Tampa, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he graduated with honors from the UF College of Journalism and Communications.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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