HB 1367 Summary

• Increases maximum age for closed-circuit television testimony from 16 to 18 years old for victims and witnesses with intellectual disabilities in certain circumstances.

• Adds human trafficking as an underlying felony offense that supports a felony murder conviction under Florida's murder statutes.

• Increases criminal penalties for human trafficking offenses to first-degree felony when the victim suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.

• Specifies that permanent branding penalties apply only when branding is committed for the purpose of human trafficking and prohibits lack of chastity or victim consent as a defense if the victim was under 18 years old.

• Extends rules of evidence protecting sexual abuse victims to include human trafficking and lewd and lascivious offenses; makes conforming changes to sexual predator registration requirements.