HB 709 — CS/HB 709: Internet Crimes Against Children Programs

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 HBCS/HB 709 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to Internet crimes against children programs;

943.0411 Internet Crimes Against Children Online Sting Operations Grant Program for local law enforcement affiliates agencies to protect children.— (1) As used in this section, the termterm: "affiliate" means a Page 1 of 4 CODING:

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hb709-00hb709-01-c1 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 HBCS/HB 709 2026 (a) "Affiliate" means a local law enforcement agency in this state which has a current memorandum of understanding with an established Internet crimes against children task force or which has been designated by the department as being in good standing.

As(b) used"Good instanding" thismeans subsection,a thelocal termlaw "Internetenforcement crimesagency againstin childrenthis taskstate force"that meansreceives anCyberTips Internetfrom crimesone againstof childrenthe task forceforces locatedand infollows thisInternet stateCrimes whichAgainst isChildren recognizedTask byForce theProgram Unitedstandards Statesin Departmentits investigation of Justice.Internet crimes against children.

(c) "Internet crimes against children task force" means an Internet crimes against children task force located in this state which is recognized by the United States Department of Justice.

The funds may be awarded to cover overtime pay, travel, investigative or digitalPage forensics2 training,of hardware,5 orCODING: computers, electronics, software, and other related necessary supplies.

Grants must be provided to local law enforcement agencies if funds are appropriated for that purpose by law.

The total amount of grants awarded may not exceed funding appropriated for the grant program.

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hb709-00hb709-01-c1 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 HBCS/HB 709 2026 (4)(3)digital Theforensics departmenttraining, mayhardware, establishor criteriacomputers, andelectronics, setsoftware, specific time periods for the acceptance of applications and forother therelated selectionnecessary processsupplies. for awarding grant funds.

Grants must be provided to local law enforcement agencies if funds are appropriated for that purpose by law.

The total amount of grants awarded may not exceed funding appropriated for the grant program.

(4)(3) The department may establish criteria and set specific time periods for the acceptance of applications and for the selection process for awarding grant funds.

943.0421 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program.— (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the "Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program Act." (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds that:that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program administered by the United States Department of Justice helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children.

(a) The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force program, run through the United States Department of Justice, helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children.

The program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 5,400Page federal,3 state,of and5 localCODING: law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.

(b) There is a lack of dedicated state resources to combat Internet crimes against children.

As a result, many of the cases involving Internet crimes are not adequately investigated.

The Legislature intends to create an account dedicated to combating Page 3 of 4 CODING:

hb709-00hb709-01-c1 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 HBCS/HB 709 2026 Internet5,400 crimesfederal, againststate, children, promoting education on Internet safety to minors and tolocal thelaw public,enforcement and rescuingprosecutorial childagencies. victims from abuse and exploitation.

The Legislature intends to create an account dedicated to combating Internet crimes against children, promoting education on Internet safety to minors and to the public, and rescuing child victims from abuse and exploitation.

(5) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt rules to implementPage and4 administerof this5 section.CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb709-01-c1 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 CS/HB 709 2026 implement and administer this section.

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