Massage parlor hours bill filed by Florida State Senator Jeff Clemens

Calling it an attempt to combat human trafficking and prostitution, Sen. Jeff Clemens on Monday filed a measure prohibiting most massage establishments from operating after 10 p.m.

Clemens, D-Lake Worth, introduced the measure that would require massage establishments to shut down between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless they were operated by a medical professional or located onsite at a hotel or motel.

Massage parlors are frequent fronts for illegal human trafficking, which often involve children. Since 2010, Department of Children and Families has investigated 1,266 cases of alleged human trafficking involving children; of those, 717 were already in the Department of Juvenile Justice system.

"The Legislature recognizes that, although the majority of massage establishments are operated by law-abiding citizens, a small number of establishments are operated by persons who use the establishment as a place to engage in illegal activities, such as human trafficking and prostitution," the bill reads.