Garcia Files Bill to end Human Trafficking

This week, Florida state Senator Ileana Garcia (R) filed Public Records/Statewide Council on Human Trafficking (SB 294), a measure that aims to “increase the effectiveness of the work performed by the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking and protect the identity of individuals that support efforts to end human trafficking in Florida.” In reference to stopping human trafficking, the Florida lawmaker asserted that she became an elected official in order “to help defend and protect the most vulnerable in our community.”

Yesterday, the lawmaker presented SB294 to the Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs.

In a statement regarding the bill, Garcia expressed that “to end human trafficking, we must ensure that those who wish to support our efforts in Florida are not deterred due to the fear of disclosing personal information, and this bill aims to provide that protection.” “I became a state senator to help defend and protect the most vulnerable in our community, and children being trafficked and abused deserve all the support we can provide.”

According to a press release from Garcia’s office, the bill “exempts from public records requirements the personal identifying information of a donor or prospective donor to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking who wish to remain anonymous.” In addition, if passed, it would also grant “an exemption from notice requirements for specified meetings with said donors or prospective donors who wish to remain anonymous.”

The Bill argues “that these actions are a public necessity in order to enhance and encourage private support for the efforts to end human trafficking in Florida.

State Senator Garcia is currently running a reelection campaign against Democrate Janelle Perez. Garcia’s election faced scrutiny and Democrats called for her to resign after a highly publicized and controversial 2020 election.