HB 875 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0875-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to aiding unmarried minors; amending 2
ss. 984.085 and 985.731, F.S.; providing enhanced 3
criminal penalties for knowingly sheltering an 4
unmarried minor or aiding an unmarried minor runaway; 5
creating a presumption concerning knowledge of a 6
minor's age; providing a defense; providing an 7
effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
11
Section 1. Section 984 .085, Florida Statutes, is amended 12
to read: 13
984.085 Sheltering unmarried minors; aiding unmarried 14
minor runaways; violations. — 15
(1)(a) A person who is not an authorized agent of the 16
Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Children and 17
Families may not knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more 18
than 24 hours without the consent of the minor's parent or 19
guardian or without notifying a law enforcement officer of the 20
minor's name and the fact that the minor is being provided 21
shelter. 22
(b) A person may not knowingly provide aid to an unmarried 23
minor who has run away from home without first contacting the 24
minor's parent or guardian or notifying a law enforcement 25
HB 875 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0875-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
officer. The aid prohibited under this paragraph includes 26
assisting the minor in obt aining shelter, such as hotel 27
lodgings. 28
(c) Proof that a person has not attained the age of 18 29
years creates the presumption that the defendant knew the 30
minor's age or acted in reckless disregard thereof. 31
(2) It is a defense that the defendant had reas onable 32
cause to believe that his or her action was necessary to 33
preserve the minor from danger to his or her welfare. 34
(3)(2) A person who violates this section commits a felony 35
misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in 36
s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 37
Section 2. Section 985.731, Florida Statutes, is amended 38
to read: 39
985.731 Sheltering unmarried minors; aiding unmarried 40
minor runaways; violations. — 41
(1)(a) A person who is not an authorized agent of the 42
department or the Department of Children and Families may not 43
knowingly shelter an unmarried minor for more than 24 hours 44
without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian or without 45
notifying a law enforcement officer of the minor's name and the 46
fact that the minor is being provided shelter. 47
(b) A person may not knowingly provide aid to an unmarried 48
minor who has run away from home without first contacting the 49
minor's parent or guardian or notifying a law enforcement 50
HB 875 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0875-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
officer. The aid prohibited under this paragraph includes 51
assisting the minor in obtaining shelter, such as hotel 52
lodgings. 53
(c) Proof that a person has not attained the age of 18 54
years creates the presumption that the defendant knew the 55
minor's age or acted in reckless disregard thereof. 56
(2) It is a defense that the defendant had reasonable 57
cause to believe that his or her action was necessary to 58
preserve the minor from danger to his or her welfare. 59
(3)(2) A person who violates this section commits a felony 60
misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in 61
s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 62
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 63