Florida DBPR Highlights Continued Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) recognizes January 11, 2025, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and highlights the agency's continued commitment to combating human trafficking through legislative support and proactive law enforcement investigations.

"Florida is a law-and-order state under Governor DeSantis' leadership, and we continue to take powerful and impactful strides to root out and prevent human trafficking," said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. "Florida's law enforcement personnel are empowered to take decisive action against these heinous crimes and raise awareness across the state through proactive enforcement and education efforts and nation-leading legislation."

As the licensing entity for hundreds of thousands of public establishments in Florida, DBPR prioritizes its role in anti-human trafficking training, education and enforcement.

Key Efforts Include:

Law Enforcement to Combat Human Trafficking

• Three DBPR personnel were sworn-in to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office Human Trafficking Task Force, reinforcing the Department's collaborative efforts in this critical mission.

• DBPR's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) Bureau of Law Enforcement conducted several undercover investigations throughout the state in 2024, uncovering vital information about the trafficking of multiple individuals, who were subsequently rescued and referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further support.

• The Division continues to conduct proactive operations to identify and address instances of human trafficking. In Miami, DBPR has partnered with local law enforcement agencies, the State Attorney's Office, and HSI to inspect multiple venues. These ongoing investigations are expected to result in multiple additional arrests.

Education and Training

• All 72,000-plus DBPR-licensed public lodging establishments are mandated to deliver annual human trafficking awareness training to employees in housekeeping and front desk roles. The Division conducts thorough inspections to ensure compliance with training protocols, reporting procedures, and the display of human trafficking awareness signage featuring the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and text numbers.

• In 2024, DBPR collected more than $45,000 in fines from public lodging establishments that failed to comply with these statutorily required anti-human trafficking requirements. All funds were transferred to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking (the "Alliance") to use in furtherance of its mission.

• The Department implemented HB 7063 (passed in 2024) to update anti-human trafficking requirements for all public lodging establishments to ensure such facilities are equipped to report suspected incidents to law enforcement efficiently.

• DBPR's law enforcement officers continually complete advanced training to further heighten their abilities to detect and investigate human trafficking crimes. ABT has completed field staff training sessions in partnership with the Alliance to empower personnel to detect and report suspected trafficking incidents during inspections.

• In 2024, more than 73 percent of DBPR staff completed the Alliance's free one-hour training.

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.

For more information about DBPR's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates nearly 1.7 million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida across more than 30 fields of industry. The Department's mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.

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