Introduction

The 15-member Council chaired by Attorney General Moody, will build on existing state and local partnerships working to combat human trafficking.

Members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, legislators, as well as experts in the fields of health, education and social services. The Council was created through legislation passed and signed into law in 2014.

About Human Trafficking

The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of trafficking around the world. Domestically, Florida continues to rank third in the nation in the number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Victims of human trafficking include children, women and men who are subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor through force, fraud or coercion.

According to a study of U.S. Department of Justice human trafficking task force cases, 83 percent of sex trafficking victims identified in the United States were U.S. citizens. The average age that a trafficked victim is first used for commercial sex is 12-14.

Council Duties

The Statewide Council on Human Trafficking was created to support human trafficking victims by enhancing care options available.

Council duties include:

• Develop recommendations for comprehensive programs and services including recommendations for certification of safe houses & safe foster homes.
• Make recommendations for apprehending and prosecuting traffickers and enhancing coordination of responses.
• Hold an annual statewide policy summit with an institution of higher learning.
• Work with the Department of Children and Families to create and maintain an inventory of human trafficking programs and services in our state.
• Develop overall policy recommendations.

Council Members

1. Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chair
2. Secretary Chad Poppell, DCF, Vice Chair
3. Surgeon General, DOH
4. Secretary Mary C. Mayhew, AHCA
5. Commissioner Rick Swearingen, FDLE
6. Secretary Simone Marstiller, DJJ
7. Commissioner Richard Corcoran, DOE
8. Chairman Manny Diaz, Jr. (Term: July 24, 2019 to June 30, 2020)
9. Chairman Heather Fitzenhagen (Term: February 7, 2019 to November 3, 2020)
10. Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Sheriff (Term: February 16, 2019 to June 30, 2020)
11. Dave Aronberg, State Attorney 15th Judicial Circuit (Term: March 9, 2017 to June 30, 2020)
12. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez (Term: February 25, 2019 to June 30, 2022)
13. Terry Coonan (Term: June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2020)
14. Dotti Groover-Skipper (Term: July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2020)

Direct Support Organization: End Human Trafficking, Inc.

HB 851 created a Direct Support Organization (DSO) for the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. This DSO met for the first time in August 2019 and incorporated under the name: End Human Trafficking, Incorporated. The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to assist the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking pursuant to Section 16.618, Florida Statutes.

The Board of Directors of this Florida non-profit corporation were appointed by the Attorney General, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida House and Senate. Those members include:

1. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Chair
2. Sara Mahoney, Vice Chair
3. Dr. Phil Toal, Secretary
4. Savannah Parvu, Treasurer
5. Special Agent in Charge Shane Pollard
6. Corporal Alan Wilkett
7. Toni Azingerv
8. Charles Bender
9. Representative Toby Overdorf
10. Senator Lauren Book
11. Representative Heather Fitzenhagen
12. Melissa Larkin-Skinner
13.  
14. Executive Director: Erin Collins

Statewide Council Meetings (2019)