Boards and Committees

Commission on Human Trafficking

The purpose of this Commission is to promote public awareness of the existence of human trafficking within Hillsborough County; Establish, through relationship building within the community, educational programming opportunities for the public and key industries to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and learn to report suspected human trafficking; and Advocate strategies, to aid rescued victims of human trafficking; and Support local, statewide, and federal efforts to identify opportunities for positive impact and improved outcomes for victims and service providers through data collection, sharing, and analysis.

Membership

Members appointed by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners.

Maximum membership

The membership of this Commission shall be comprised of 19 members
representing the following:

  1. A member of the Board of County Commissioners
  2. A representative of the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office (HCSO), as designated by the HCSO
  3. A representative of the Tampa Police Department (TPD), as designated by the TPD
  4. A representative of the Temple Terrace Police Department, as designated by the Department
  5. A representative of the Plant City Police Department, as designated by the Department
  6. A representative of the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD), as designated by the HCSD
  7. A representative of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA), as designated by the (HCAA)
  8. A representative of the Port Tampa Bay, as designated by Port Tampa Bay
  9. A representative of the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (SA), as designated by the SA
  10. A representative of the Hillsborough County Public Defender for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (PD), as designated by the PD
  11. A representative of the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, as designated by the Chief Judge or his designee
  12. A representative of the Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women, as designated by the Commission on the Status of Women

There shall be seven individuals, each representing at least one of the following segments of our community:

  1. Community/Victim Services, as designated by Redefining Refuge
  2. Tourism Industry, as designated by Visit Tampa Bay
  3. Hotel Industry, as designated by the Hillsborough County Hotel & Motel Association
  4. Hospital/Medical Profession, as designated by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
  5. Religious Institutions, as designated by a Religious Institution with its primary location in Hillsborough County
  6. Human Trafficking Community Advocate, as designated by a human trafficking service provider
  7. Lived Experience Expert, as designated by a human trafficking service provider or other related not for profit and/or a governmental entity

An alternate member shall be selected by each membership category listed above.

The Commission may appoint non-voting participants and/or liaisons who may participate in meetings but may not vote.

Length of Term

Terms are initially staggered as follows, and all subsequent terms are for two years:

  • Categories A – L, two year terms
  • Categories M – S, initially one year term, then two years

The term for alternate members shall be the same as the length of term of the primary member.

Authority

Resolution R19-141, adopted December 4, 2019 by the BOCC, amended by Resolution 20-041 adopted 5/20/2020, amended by Resolution adopted 11/01/2023.

Meeting Information

    1. Times

      Quarterly; Last Thursday of the month  at 1 PM, unless otherwise noted in the current schedule below

    2. Commission on Human Trafficking (COHT) Schedule

      COHT Board

      Board meetings take place at County Center - 26th Floor, Conf. Rm. A & B, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa.

      • Meeting date: Jan. 26, 2023 at 1 PM
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 01/26/2023 Agenda

       

      • Meeting date: March 23, 2023 at 1 PM
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 03/23/2023 Agenda

       

      • Meeting date: June 15, 2023 at 1 PM (changed date due to restraints on location)
        Meeting type: Cancelled
        Meeting materials: Cancelled

       

      • Meeting date: Sept. 28, 2023 at 1 PM  
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 09/28/2023 Agenda

       

      • Meeting date: Dec. 7, 2023 at 1 PM (changed date due to the holiday season)
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 12/07/2023 Agenda

       

      COHT Subcommittees

      Subcommittee meetings take place at County Center - 24th Floor, Conf. Rm. 2401, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa

      • Subcommittee name: Steering Committee
        Meeting date: Feb. 23, 2023 at 1 PM
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 02/23/2023 Recap

       

      • Subcommittee name: Legislative & Judicial
        Meeting date: Feb. 23, 2023 at 2:30 PM
        Meeting materials: 02/23/2023 Agenda
        Meeting materials: To be posted

       

       

      • Subcommittee name: Legislative & Judicial
        Meeting date: May 25, 2023 at 2:30 PM
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 05/25/23 Agenda
        Meeting minutes: 05/25/23 Recap

       

      • Subcommittee name: Steering Committee
        Meeting date: July 27, 2023 at 1 PM
        Meeting type: Cancelled
        Meeting materials: Cancelled

       

      • Subcommittee name: Legislative & Judicial
        Meeting date: July 27, 2023 at 2:30 PM
        Meeting type: Canceled
        Meeting materials: Canceled

       

      • Subcommittee name: Steering Committee
        Meeting date: October 26, 2023 at 1 PM
        Meeting materials: 10/26/2023 Agenda
        Meeting materials: To be posted

       

      • Subcommittee name: Legislative & Judicial
        Meeting date: October 26, 2023 at 2 PM
        Meeting type: Hybrid
        Meeting materials: 10/26/23 Agenda

       

    3. Meeting types
      • In-person meetings
        • All participant must meet in person; there is no virtual participation
        • For board meetings only, see accessing meetings if you want to view the meeting, but not participate
      • Hybrid
        • At least a quorum of the board meets in-person, all others can meet in-person or virtually
        • Virtual participants and attendees must sign up ahead of time to receive information for access to the meeting
        • In-person participants are encouraged to sign up ahead of time, but it is not required
      • Virtual
        • All board members and other participants access the meeting through virtual methods
        • Informational only - no board business can be voted on
    4. Accessing Meetings

      You can view the board meetings (but not subcommittee meetings) in the following ways:

      Live

      Recorded

      The meeting will be captioned on the screen as well.

    5. Public Participation and Comments

      To make public comment for virtual or hybrid meetings

      • For both board and subcommittee meetings, sign up to participate virtually or in-person by sending an email to Lisa J. Montelione
        • Include your name, phone number, and whether you will:
          • participate virtually
          • participate in-person (hybrid only)
          • provide written comments
          • attend virtually, but not participate (for subcommittee meetings only)
        • If you are have chosen virtual, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to participate (board or subcommittee) or attend (subcommittee)
      • You will be called on in the order that you have signed up
      • If the meeting is hybrid, you may also attend the meeting and sign up on-site where your name will be added to the list at that time

      To make public comment for in-person only meetings

      • Show up at the appropriate time and location for the date listed and sign up to speak
      • Send an email to Lisa J. Montelione if you wish to provide written comments only
    6. 2022 Archived Schedule and Meeting Materials

      COHT Board

       

       

       

       

      COHT Subcommittees

       

       

       

       

    Contact Person

    Lisa J. Montelione, Administrative Services Coordinator
    Government Relations & Strategic Services
    601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 24th Floor
    Tampa, FL 33602
    P: (813) 274-6936
    E: MontelioneLJ@hillsboroughcounty.org

      Member Position/Appointed By Dates of Service
    A The Honorable Donna Cameron Cepeda Board of County Commissioners 11/22/2022 -
    11/19/2024*
    B  Major Mayra Rivera
    		 HCSO Representative  09/07/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    B  Captain Chad Cave
    		 HCSO Representative - Alternate 11/15/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    C Chief Lee Bercaw Tampa Police Department 02/19/2020 -
    04/05/2024*
    C Sergeant Andrea Hughes
    		 Tampa Police Department - Alternate
    		 11/15/2023 -
    04/05/2024
    D
    		Captain Chris Mills  Temple Terrace Police Department  04/06/2022 -
    04/05/2024 
    E Sergeant William Lee Plant City Police Department 10/19/2022 -
    10/31/2024
    F The Honorable Karen Perez HC School District 02/19/2020 -
    04/05/2024*
    G Detective Sergeant Kevin Durkin Aviation Authority 02/19/2020 -
    03/22/2024*
    H Mr. Charles Klug Port Tampa Bay 02/19/2020 -
    04/05/2024*
    I The Honorable Susan Lopez State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit 06/22/2023 -
    04/05/2024
    I  Ms. Jessica Couvertier State Attorney's Office - Alternate
    		  
    J The Honorable Julianne Holt Public Defender for Thirteenth Judicial Circuit 06/17/2020 -
    06/30/2024*
    J Mr. Rocky Brancato  Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit - Alternate 11/15/2023 -
    06/30/2024
    K The Honorable Christopher Sabella
    		 Administrative Office of the Courts for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit 09/07/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    K Ms. Gina Justice
    		 Administrative Office of the Courts for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit - Alternate
    		 11/15/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    L Ms. Dotti Groover-Skipper
    		 Commission on the Status of Women Representative 09/07/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    L Ms. Rosa Webster
    		 Commission on the Status of Women - Alternate 11/15/2023 -
    09/30/2025
    M Ms. Jennifer Glaister Community Victims Services - designated by Redefining Refuge 02/19/2020 -
    04/19/2024*
    N Mr. Santiago Corrada Tourism Industry - designated by Visit Tampa Bay 02/19/2020 -
    08/30/2024*
    N Ms. JoLynn Lokey
    		 Tourism Industry - designated by Visit Tampa Bay - Alternate
    		 11/15/2023 -
    08/30/2024
    O Ms. Beverly Mogelnicki  Hotel Industry - designated by the HC Hotel & Motel Association 04/06/2022 -
    04/19/2025*
    P Ms. Mayra Espinosa Hospital/Medical Profession - designated by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay 01/19/2023 -
    07/31/2024
    Q Ms. Claudette Graves  Religious Institution 11/16/2022 -
    11/15/2024 
    R Ms. Deborah Laskowski  Community Advocate for Human Trafficking 06/15/2022 -
    06/30/2024 
    S Ms. Constance Rose Lived Experience Expert - designated by Created Healing Root and Victims2Survivors 04/05/2023 -
    04/05/2025

    *Reappointed