House Bill 7141 strengthened Florida’s response to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. It requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to use standardized screening tools, certify safe houses and safe foster homes, and ensure specialized training for relevant staff and service providers. It created the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking within the Department of Legal Affairs and requires an annual report. It also directs the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to study Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and report findings to the Legislature and Governor. The bill sets criteria for placement in safe houses and safe foster homes, outlines certification requirements, and mandates specialized training for staff and foster parents. It further requires DCF to contract with a designated entity to develop a comprehensive accountability program, which must also be submitted to the Legislature and Governor.

Specialized Intensive Training

The law requires “specialized intensive training” for Child Welfare Professionals who are handling cases involving a sexually exploited child.

Section 409.1754(2)(a)1, Florida Statute, states:

TRAINING; CASE MANAGEMENT; TASK FORCES

The department and community-based care lead agencies shall ensure that cases in which a child is alleged, suspected, or known to have been sexually exploited are assigned to Child Protective Investigators and Case Managers who have specialized intensive training in handling cases involving a sexually exploited child. The department and lead agencies shall ensure that Child Protective Investigators and Case Managers receive this training before accepting a case involving a sexually exploited child.

Child Welfare Professionals are required to complete an initial 6-hour training course, before working with a case that is suspected or confirmed CSEC status and then maintain at least one hour per quarter of CSEC-related training.