ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMPLIANCE
Laws passed by the Florida legislature in 2019-2024 established new requirements for public lodging establishments. Please review the following information and ensure that you are in compliance.
REQUIREMENTS
Training: Lodging establishments are required to provide human trafficking awareness training within 60 days of beginning employment to all employees who work in housekeeping, at the front desk, or in reception areas. Training courses must be approved by DBPR, and the department has provided a list of approved 3rd party courses.
Every lodging establishment must maintain a signed and dated acknowledgement of each employee completing the training, and the acknowledgement must be made available to the DBPR upon request. The establishment may keep the acknowledgement electronically.
Signage: Lodging establishments must post, in a conspicuous location accessible to employees, a required 11"x15" public awareness sign printed in an easily legible font in at least 32-point font which states the following in English, Spanish, and any other locally predominant language:
“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 Florida Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-855-FLA-SAFE to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and Florida law.”
Procedures: Lodging establishments must implement procedures to report suspected human trafficking activity to law enforcement, the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline (855-FLA-SAFE), or to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888).
Public lodging establishments licensed as an apartment must conduct a background check for all employees, maintain log tracking keys to all dwelling units, and establish procedures for handling and storing dwelling unit keys.
Lodging establishments are prohibited from offering an hourly rate for accommodation (does not apply to late checkout fees).
Violations: For first offense, 45 days to correct violation. For subsequent offenses, $2,000 per day administrative fine.
UPDATES
Legislation passed since 2021 made the following changes:
- Posted signage must now refer people to call a state human trafficking hotline instead of the national hotline.
- Hotels now have only 45 days to correct a first violation of human trafficking awareness requirements. Subsequent violations now will automatically incur an administrative fine.
- Hotels are prohibited from offering an hourly rate for accommodation (does not apply to late checkout fees).
- Public lodging establishments licensed as an apartment must conduct a background check for all employees, maintain log tracking keys to all dwelling units, and establish procedures for handling and storing dwelling unit keys.
LINKS
Pre-approved training courses (HTML)
Sample 11x15 awareness sign (PDF)
Sample human trafficking awareness training log (PDF)
Sample dwelling unit key log (PDF)
DBPR Industry Bulletin - June 14, 2023 (PDF)
DBPR Industry Bulletin - February 1, 2023 (PDF)
Bill Text - HB 7063, passed in 2024 (PDF)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES