Florida is rolling out several new laws Wednesday. Many of them are aimed at keeping your kids and your family safe, along with another group we always need to think about here: tourists.
Tourists spend more than $200 million a day in Florida, so we can't afford to get a reputation that the Sunshine State is not a safe place for them.
But for years, they've seen terrifying videos of parasailing rides that turn into disasters. Six riders have died since 2001.
Finally, for the first time, there will be some regulation for the parasailing industry. Now, parasailing boats will need to have insurance and weather radios, and can't operate in high winds.
Another set of new laws cracks down on sex offenders. Sentencing is tougher, and so are the rules on registering and reporting.
There are also bigger punishments for teachers and principals who take advantage of students.
And another new law harshly punishes the pimps who take girls in as sex slaves.
If you live off the proceeds from human trafficking, or you permanently scar or "brand" a victim, the penalties are now tougher.
Plus, there's no longer a time limit on when people can be prosecuted for human trafficking. No matter when you did it, justice can now come after you.
Here are some of the other new Florida laws for 2014 taking effect on Wednesday.
Law enforcement:
• HB 41 creates the Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Hall of Fame. The law, requires space to be set aside in the first floor plaza of the Capitol for the hall, joining wall space used for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame, Fallen Firefighters Wall of Honor, Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame, Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame, Florida's Medal of Honor recipients, and the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
• HB 427 increases the penalty for burglars who cross county lines to commit break-ins. The law was crafted in response to the so-called "pillowcase burglars" in Martin County, where Sheriff William Snyder, a former state representative, noted an increase in people traveling Interstate 95 to break into homes and quickly flee to other counties.
Public records:
• HB 115 allows university direct-support organization boards to meet in private when they discuss donors or potential donors, proposals for research funding or plans for initiating or supporting research.
Pharmacies:
• HB 7077 sets registration requirements and standards for what are known as "compounding pharmacies" that are located in other states but sell medications in Florida. Those pharmacies, in general, create medications that are supposed to be tailored to the needs of individual patients. The law is aimed at preventing a repeat of a 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis because of problems at a Massachusetts pharmacy.
