Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Additional information about human trafficking can be found at any of the following websites:

• http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/
  
  prevention/human-trafficking/index.html
• https://www.myfloridalegal.com/human-trafficking/council
• https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/awareness-training
• https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/human-trafficking
• https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/type-trafficking/human-trafficking
  /human-trafficking
• https://polarisproject.org/

Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE), or Visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline online at: https://humantraffickinghotline.org.

Yes. The human trafficking course counts towards the continuing education renewal requirement for the biennium during which you take the course.

This requirement will not affect your ability to renew your license before January 1, 2021. However, if the course is taken before your renewal date, the CE credit will count towards your renewal requirement.

The statute does not specify the method of continuing education. Check the courses approved for your profession to see if an online course has been approved.

The signs must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the establishment, which is accessible to employees.

January 1, 2021.

This requirement will not affect your ability to renew your license before January 1, 2021. However, if the course is taken before your renewal date, the CE credit will count towards your renewal requirement.

Yes. The following professions are required to take a 1-hour continuing education course on human trafficking by January 1, 2021:

This requirement will not affect your ability to renew your license before January 1, 2021. However, if the course is taken before your renewal date, the CE credit will count towards your renewal requirement.

The legislation allows each establishment to develop their own procedures for reporting suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or a local law enforcement agency. The Department has posted examples of reporting procedures and signs outlining these procedures to help establishments get started developing their own procedures at www.flhealthsource.gov/humantrafficking/.

The sign and the procedures for reporting suspected human trafficking must be in place no later than January 1, 2021.

The sign outlining the procedures for reporting suspected human trafficking must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the establishment which is accessible to employees.

No. The DEM is defined as the manager of the establishment and responsible for operating the establishment in accordance with the laws and rules. This responsibility must belong to a single licensed massage therapist actively practicing in that establishment.

You must notify the Board within ten days of a change in the DEM of your establishment.

File Form DH MQA-5040 with the Board whenever you have a change of DEM. This Form can be found at www.flhealthsource.com/humantrafficking

The first requirement for a DEM is to be a licensed Florida Massage Therapist with a clear and active license. You can find the license status of all Florida Massage Therapists on our website at: https://appsmqa.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/Home

To qualify as a DEM a person must:

1. Hold an active, clear license as a Massage Therapist in Florida
2. Practice at the establishment for which they have been delegated
3. Be designated as the manager of the establishment and responsible for operating the establishment in accordance with the laws and rules
4. Not have criminal history as described in Section 480.043(8), F.S., nor disciplinary action taken for sexual misconduct involving prostitution or for crimes related to the practice of massage therapy involving prostitution.

The law states that the sign must include “the relevant provisions of the reporting procedure.” The relevant provisions include, but are not limited to, the phone numbers and other contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline or for the local law enforcement agency where the suspected human trafficking should be reported to. The sign must also include any other procedures that the establishment requires its employees to follow when human trafficking is suspected. You can download a pdf of a sign which meets the requirements at: http://www.flhealthsource.gov/humantrafficking/

A massage therapist must practice at the establishment for which they are serving as DEM. An individual is limited in the number of establishments they can serve as DEM for to the number of locations they can actively practice at.