Under-21 soon will be too young to be a stripper in Florida. What we know about HB 7063

Florida residents will have to be the drinking age to be able to strip for money starting this summer.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation this weekend that would raise the age limit for adult entertainers and push back against human trafficking efforts in the state.

"This legislation will help better protect the most vulnerable in our communities, it will ensure that if businesses are not complying with these very modest, reasonable requirements, whether knowingly or unknowingly, they will be held accountable," DeSantis said at a press conference at Granada Church in Coral Gables.

"And of course, anybody actively involved in human trafficking will have the book thrown at them in the state of Florida."

What is House Bill 7063?

House Bill 7063 seeks to combat human trafficking, with the bill's description detailing it will:

• Extend future repeal date of direct-support organization for Statewide Council on Human Trafficking;

• Revises hotline number to be included in human trafficking awareness signs at Florida rest area service plazas, emergency rooms, strip clubs, massage parlors, and other places where trafficking can occur;

• Require adult entertainment establishments to check identification of entertainers.

What types of establishments does this bill cover?

In addition to strip clubs, the employee age restriction applies to any “adult entertainment establishment." This, under state law, refers to “any business that features persons who engage in specific sexual activities for observation by patrons, and which restricts or purports to restrict admission only to adults.”

Section 847.001, F.S., defines “adult entertainment establishment," to include:

• Adult bookstores and theaters

• Unlicensed massage establishments

• “Special cabarets”

How old do you have to be to work in a strip club in Florida currently?

• Dancer - Current state law says 18, but many local jurisdictions have ordinances that raise the age to 21.

• Bartender - 21

• Server - 18

Have other states enacted laws to prevent someone under 21 from working at an adult entertainment establishment?

As of May 14, there are eight other states that have laws regarding age limits for employees of adult establishments:

• California

• Georgia

• Louisiana

• Ohio

• Oklahoma

• Oregon

• Texas

• Washington

What are the penalties if someone under 21 works at an adult entertainment establishment?

If anyone younger than 21 years old is hired, the bill analysis says it would make it a felony offense for someone to "knowingly" employ a worker younger than 21 at an adult entertainment establishment.

“A person’s ignorance of another person’s age or a person’s misrepresentation of his or her age may not be raised as a defense in prosecution for a violation of this section,” the bill reads.

It also says that there may be additional fiscal impact on certain private entities.

When does it go into effect?

The bill has an effective date of Monday, July 1, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida exotic dancer age limits restricted by new law. What to know