Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Pensacola) and Rep. John Temple (R-Wildwood) filed SB 1196/HB 1129 and SB 1190/HB 1131, two bills seeking to protect Florida’s children from sexual predators.
The Protect Our Children Act, SB 1196/HB 1129, will increase and add criminal penalties for adults who groom and prey on minors by having sexually explicit conversations online while providing special protections for victims under 18 years of age.
The bill also establishes required guidelines and password filters for manufacturers of tablets and smartphones. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024.
SB 1190/HB 1131, the Online Sting Operations Grant Program is a bill supporting funding for local law enforcement agencies to establish a sting operation budget targeting individuals preying upon children, or attempting to do so.
This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
“These two bills will give law enforcement the tools they need in order to put online child predators behind bars for a long, long time. Keeping these lowlifes off the street and having them on the sex offender registry will help ensure our children are protected from the ever-present harms of social media platforms,” said Sen. Ingoglia.
“In an era where technology plays a pivotal role in our children’s lives, the introduction of the Protect Our Children Act stands as a crucial step forward.
This legislation not only bolsters restrictions against sexual predators, but also establishes essential safeguards for our youth navigating the digital landscape.
By addressing the risks associated with social media and mobile devices, this law reinforces our commitment to ensuring a secure and nurturing environment for every child, shielding them from potential harm and empowering parents and guardians with the tools needed to safeguard their well-being,” Rep. Salzman.
Author
