Tallahassee, Florida - It's hard to imagine that slavery still exists in 2012 but state Attorney General Pam Bondi says it is going on right now in Florida and across the country.
On Wednesday, she joined forces with two state lawmakers who are pushing legislation to crack down on human trafficking in Florida.
They say human trafficking is the modern-day form of slavery because children and adults are being forced into the sex trade and domestic servitude. Bondi calls it a $32 billion industry.
The cases often involve runaway girls who leave home and come to Florida looking for a life of fame and fortune. Instead, they quickly run out of money and options and find themselves swept up in prostitution.
Others are forced into service by threats against family members or claims of debt.
Bill sponsor Sen. Anitere Flores vows to stop human trafficking.
"What we're doing here today is telling all those folks, putting on notice sex traffickers and these folks across the state, that the state of Florida is not going to stand on the sidelines any more. We are going to take this serious and we are going to go after you."
Rep. Will Snyder is carrying the legislation in the House. He says it's time to shine a light on the problem and attack it.
"We have victims that are quiet, they're behind the scenes, they're voiceless and they're crying for attention and they're crying for help."
Attorney General Bondi says the solution will require a team effort among federal, state and local partners.
"We are unified in our resolve to make Florida a zero-tolerance state for sex trafficking and domestic servitude. What we need are some stronger laws for our state law enforcement officers."
The legislation would increase state penalties for trafficking so they equal federal law. It would give cases involving multiple jurisdictions to a statewide prosecutor, allow wiretapping and increase the penalty for human smuggling from a misdemeanor to a felony.