Department of Children & Families finalizes human‑trafficking signage rule and files adult safe‑home certification rule

Sam Kearse, deputy chief of staff at the Florida Department of Children and Families, told the committee the department has implemented statutory requirements from 2023 legislation addressing exploitation and human trafficking.

Kearse said the department finalized Chapter 65C‑46 in August 2024 to specify content for signage that warns residents about human trafficking and encourages reporting; the signs were subsequently created and distributed to safe homes and relevant residential treatment facilities. The department published a notice of proposed rule for the corresponding residential treatment chapter 65E‑9 and is in the 21‑day waiting period prior to finalization. Kearse told the committee the proposed rulemaking received substantial provider feedback and the agency worked with providers before moving the proposed rule forward.

On adult safe homes, Kearse said the 2023 law created the nation’s first certification process for providers that house and treat survivors of human trafficking. The department worked with the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking and a services and resource committee; it held workshops and sought survivor and provider input in 2024. Kearse said the Department submitted its notice of final rule for the new Chapter 65K (certification for adult safe homes) and expected the notice to be filed with the Department of State following the statutory review period. He said neither rule requires a cost‑benefit analysis review committee (CERC) or legislative ratification.