Agenda Item Name:
Title
Authorization to Advertise Human Trafficking Sign Ordinance
End
Presenter:
Community Support Services
Description:
This is a request for authorization to advertise the Human Trafficking Sign Ordinance
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize advertisement of Human Trafficking Sign Ordinance
End
Prior Board Motions:
None.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
N/A
End
Background:
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, which involves the exploitation of persons for commercial sex or forced labor and often subjects victims to force, fraud and coercion. Many victims of human trafficking are forced to work in prostitution or the sexual entertainment industry, but trafficking also occurs in forms of labor exploitation, such as domestic servitude and restaurants, janitorial, sweatshop factory and agricultural work. Traffickers use various techniques to instill fear in victims to keep them enslaved such as isolation, threats of imprisonment and deportation, confiscation or passports, visas or other identification documents and threats of violence toward victims or their families.
Florida law authorizes counties to enforce posting of human trafficking public awareness signs in certain establishments. Other counties in the State have adopted similar ordinances.
The Victim Services Board considered the drafting of an ordinance at their meeting of August 15, 2019. At their meeting of September 19, they unanimously approved forwarding the attached ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.
The intent of this Ordinance is to promote, protect, and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Alachua County by creating Chapter 84 of the Alachua County Code to regulate the posting of human trafficking public awareness signs in certain establishments.