TAMPA, FL- Today, gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner hosted a press conference in Tampa, FL outlining another key element to the Florida First Public Safety Policy: Ending Child Sex Trafficking.
Declaring that “good is not good enough when it comes to protecting kids,” the Florida First Public Safety Proposal on Ending Child Sex Trafficking outlines a bold and comprehensive plan to tackle human trafficking and end the sexual exploitation of children and women across the state.
“For too long, we’ve had many different agencies and councils sharing responsibility for human trafficking. They’ve done good work— but when responsibility is scattered, victims can fall through the cracks,” said Paul Renner.“Human trafficking is one of the world’s most pervasive crimes. As Governor, and the top law enforcement executive in the state, every trafficking criminal and cartel needs to take note, that in Florida, we will not stop until you are on death row or behind bars.”
Florida ranks third in the United States, underscoring the importance of policy actions designed to strengthen public safety enforcement, protect and seek justice for vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers face serious consequences under the law.
Executive Director of America’s Future, Mary Flynn O’Neill said: “The exploitation and trafficking of children is a blight on our state and our country that must be eradicated. Paul Renner has a clear plan to eradicate this criminal activity, the courage to enforce the law, and the resolve to see it through.”
Renner’s Florida First Public Safety Proposal on Ending Child Sex Trafficking calls for the creation of a Florida Office of Human Trafficking Enforcement, housed directly within the Governor’s Office and reporting directly to the Governor.
Other Key Components of the Florida First Public Safety Proposal on Ending Child Sex Trafficking include:
1. Stronger Laws to Punish and Stop Child Sex Trafficking
- Expand capital sex trafficking definition to include any minor, 787.06(5)(a) (currently under age 12). This means the death penalty for sex trafficking children.
- Make the “use” or “promotion” of “sexual performances” under 827.071(2) and (3) part of the human trafficking statute 787.06 with enhanced penalties. Example: Trafficker obtains embarrassing photos from a child and uses blackmail to coerce the child into long-term participation. Currently not treated and punished as human trafficking.
2. Increased Funding for Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
- Address dangerous backlogs of cyber tips while children are actively being exploited.
- Support SB 656 (Bradley)/HB 709 (Carhart-Johnson) to create a dedicated ICAC Task Force Funding Program with recurring resources to identify, prosecute, and dismantle trafficking operations.
3. Stronger Coordination Among Task Forces and Not for Profit Organizations
- Encourage close collaboration among Florida’s three regional human trafficking task forces and non-governmental organizations to expand education, intelligence-sharing, and network disruption efforts.
4. Expanded Support for Victims
- Increase funding for emergency shelters, trauma care, and long-term recovery resources for all victims of sex trafficking.
5. Strong Immigration Enforcement
- Enhance coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to arrest and remove illegal immigrants engaged in human trafficking and related crimes.
6. Enhanced Online Protections for Minors
- Aggressively enforce new laws protecting children from online pornography and addictive social media platforms, including HB 3.
7. Keep Phones Out of K-12 Schools— “Bell to Bell”
- Keep cell phones out of K-12 classrooms from the opening bell to the closing bell to reduce exploitation, distraction, and online predation during school hours.
The Florida First Public Safety Proposal on Ending Child Sex Trafficking makes clear that protecting children is not optional, incremental, or negotiable— it is a moral imperative and a top priority.