A bill filed by a Treasure Coast legislator would now require any person convicted of soliciting prostitution to serve a mandatory 10-day jail sentence.

The Florida House criminal justice subcommittee approved the bill, HB 219, Tuesday morning. It still needs to be approved by the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee and the Judiciary Committee before it can head to the floor of the Florida House.

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Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, filed the bill in January, just weeks before nearly 300 men were accused of soliciting prostitution at Treasure Coast and Palm Beach county spas and massage parlors law enforcement agencies believe have ties to human trafficking.

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The bill also calls for those who were convicted of soliciting prostitution from a victim of human trafficking to receive mandatory 30-day jail sentences.

“I’m very pleased to see this important bill move forward,” Overdorf said in a statement. “Human beings are not commodities to be bought and sold, and Florida must make it crystal-clear that we will not look the other way when evildoers use vulnerable people to line their own pockets. Quite simply, imposing tougher penalties will reduce demand for services provided by victims of human trafficking and will go a long way toward eradicating this scourge in our state.”

Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, said during the hearing he'd like to see longer sentences for people convicted of soliciting prostitution from a trafficking victim.

Overdorf said they placed a 30-day limit in the bill after talking to local sheriffs about what would make sure local jails are not overcrowded.

"We felt that 30 days was certainly a disruption in people's lives and certainly would be a deterrent on demand if that person knew if that was a potential for coming," Overdorf said.

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Lynne Barletta, the founder of Martin County-based anti-human trafficking nonprofit Catch the Wave of Hope, said the bill would send a message to people who choose to solicit.

"We must begin to address this issue of demand because that is what's fueling the supply," Barletta said.

At this point, those convicted of solicitation of prostitution face penalties including:

A mandatory $5,000 civil fine;

Up to a $1,000 criminal fine;

100 hours of community service;

An 8-hour human trafficking course;

Mandatory testing for sexually transmitted diseases;

Up to 60 days of vehicle impoundment.

A judge determines sentencing on a case-by-case basis.

If the bill does become law, it would take effect in October. None of the men arrested earlier this year would be required to serve a 10-day jail sentence because they are accused of committing a crime before the bill's passage.

Sen. Gayle Harrell has filed a similar bill in the Florida Senate. It passed the Criminal Justice Committee unanimously last month.

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