Sen. Ileana Garcia Appointed to top Spot in Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking

This week, Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson (R) appointed Florida Senator Ileana Garcia (R) to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking’s Board of Directors. The appointment comes in recognition of Garcia’s “unwavering commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence.”

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a non-profit organization with a goal of providing support, funding, and leadership to the Sunshine State’s statewide effort to end human trafficking. Senator Garcia will begin her term on July 16^th, 2021, and it will continue until July 16^th, 2025.

In response to the appointment, Garcia shared what the role means to her, saying that “survivors of domestic violence, and the heroes who work in domestic violence shelters, deserve all the support and compassion we can provide.” “I thank President Simpson for entrusting me to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, Board of Directors, and I will continue to advocate for the protection and wellbeing of survivors of domestic violence in both my role as a legislator and a board member.”

In appointing Garcia to the position, Simpson called her “a passionate advocate for victims of these horrific crimes,” adding that she “will be a strong voice in the search for solutions.” He noted that “the first two bills Senator Garcia sponsored and passed, which are now law, were aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence and the volunteers who serve in domestic violence shelters.”

Simpson affirmed his confidence in her because “she has a strong commitment to help those who have been abused, neglected, and victimized.” Expressing that “she will serve the Senate and Florida well in this important role,” Simpson championed Garcia’s work so far.

The two legislations in question are Senate Bill 70, or Domestic Violence Centers, was signed into law on June 16^th 2021, and it would make “it a first-degree misdemeanor, or a felony upon a second or subsequent conviction, for any person to maliciously publish, disseminate, or disclose any descriptive information or image that may identify the location of a certified domestic violence center.

The other Bill referenced is Senate Bill 69, or the Records/Staff and Domestic Violence Advocates of Domestic violence Centers, which was signed into law on June 4^th 2021. The legislation “exempts from public record the personal information and addresses of DCF domestic violence, shelters’ current or former staff, domestic advocates and their family.