New bill creates system for human trafficking awareness training in public schools

Osceola News-Gazette | By Emely Albelo | May 15, 2025

Public teachers are to undergo human trafficking awareness training if House Bill 1237 takes effect July 1, 2025.

Rep. Erika Booth (R-St. Cloud) sponsored the bill with Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City) on with the hopes of securing children’s safety across Florida.

“We will never turn a blind eye to this horrific crime,” said Booth, a former educator. “Human trafficking threatens our children’s safety, and we’re fighting back with everything we’ve got.”

The bill would require public schools to develop an annual training curriculum covering human trafficking definitions, victim identification, and school personnel responsibilities.

Booth said this isn’t just training; it’s a battle cry that Florida will protect its kids at all costs, in every classroom and campus.

“No predator will find safe harbor anywhere in Florida,” Booth said.

The bill’s Senate companion (SB 444) calls for each public school to designate a member of the administrative personnel to provide annual training regarding human trafficking awareness to instructional and other personnel, school nurses, school doctors, and any other personnel deemed by the designated administrative personnel member to have regular contact with students. Training would also be provided for new employees in such positions within 90 days after beginning their employment.

According to the School District of Osceola County, they have already made preparations to make their schools a “child traffic-free zone” in its amended Student Code of Conduct and teachers’ required instruction planning and reporting guide.

Under the Code of Conduct, students would report their suspicions or knowledge of trafficking to school administration for further investigation, such as the school resource officer or law enforcement officer, while remaining anonymous.

Teachers would provide information about the manner in which the prescribed courses of study set forth are provided by school districts by July 1 of each year. Each school district in turn would submit an implementation plan for posting on the school district website.

The report states in order to assist with instruction, the department will maintain a human trafficking webpage (http://www.fldoe.org/ schools/ healthy- schools/ human-trafficking.stml), with information about the education described in this rule; resources on abuse, including sexual abuse, and human trafficking prevention for professional learning purposes; and materials for parents, guardians, and other caretakers of students.

Overdorf is a member of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.

“Human trafficking is a vile, despicable crime that preys on the most vulnerable—our children,” he said. “No child should live in terror, and no parent should lie awake at night fearing for their safety. Our kids spend their days in school, and with this bill, we’re arming educators and administrators with the tools to spot danger and stop it cold.”