Tommy Wright, a Republican senator from Port Orange, has introduced Senate Bill 276, which seeks to revise Florida statutes 984.085 and 985.731 pertaining to the sheltering and assisting of unmarried adolescents.
It states that when an unmarried minor’s age is under 18, it is assumed that the person offering shelter or assistance was aware of the minor’s age or acted carelessly in contempt of it. They would have 24 hours to contact the minor’s guardian or law enforcement. The legislation provides a defense to anyone accused under this law if they had reasonable grounds to believe their acts were required to protect the minor from harm.
It proposes raising criminal penalties for violators, changing the charge from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, punishable under sections of the Florida statutes.
Sheltering young adults without parental authorization or contacting law enforcement can endanger the minors’ safety and well-being while also causing legal problems for the adults involved. The adult sheltering the minor may not have the minor’s best interests in mind. Without parental supervision, adolescents could be subjected to abuse, exploitation or unsafe circumstances from which they may be unlikely to escape.
According to the FDLE, in 2023, approximately 29,000 missing child reports were made to the agency. Operating alongside the Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse, eight amber alerts were sent out.
Without contacting law enforcement, there is no formal record of the minor’s whereabouts. If something happens to the minor — whether they go missing, are injured or require assistance — it may take significantly longer to find or assure their safety.
In Florida, children not raised under their assigned guardian or parent can be considered as unaccompanied homeless, especially if under the age of consent. These individuals would need to be documented through a social worker.
According to the National Library of Medicine, children who are not raised or under the care of parents or guardians can affect the child’s cognitive and socio-emotional development. The attachment developed at an early age provides support that is hard to find in others. The absence within the early stages of childhood can affect adulthood as well.
Samiyah Abdullah, a third-year elementary education major at FAMU, explains how a law like this could reshape children’s safety in Florida.
“I believe it can be effective and ensure the safety of young students. In this economy, a lot of parents cannot provide for a child’s education while also keeping food on the table without putting in longer hours. With this bill, it will show who has a child’s best interest,” she said.
If a child needs a safe place to stay due to abuse or other unsafe circumstances, legal shelters, safe houses and organizations can assist. These places are created to protect children and collaborate closely with law enforcement to guarantee a child’s safety.
As of April 1, the bill has become favorable by Children, Families and Elder Affairs on a 6-0 vote.
If a minor is at risk or has run away from home, this hotline offers confidential support and can connect minors with proper resources: 1-800-786-2929