With broad bipartisan support, both houses of the Florida Legislature passed a bill to raise the age to become a stripper in the Sunshine State from 18 to 21. It’s part of a broader bill aiming to prevent human trafficking.
It passed the House of Representatives by a 104-3 margin Friday after it passed the Senate by a 35-3 margin earlier in the week.
The bill, as amended, prohibits anyone under 21 from working at any adult entertainment establishment.
“(A)dult entertainment establishments are widely recognized as being a significant part of the sex trafficking network used by traffickers to coerce and facilitate men, women, and children into performing sexual acts,” the bill states.
It adds that “victims of sex trafficking are frequently recruited to work as performers or employees in adult entertainment establishments.”
Owners, managers or employees face a misdemeanor charge if they knowingly employ, contract, or otherwise permit someone under that age to work in an adult entertainment establishment.
That charge is upped to a felony if said underage employee performs or works while nude.
The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
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