CS/HB 7027

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to a review under the Open Government
3Sunset Review Act regarding personal information contained
4in motor vehicle records; amending s. 119.0712, F.S.;
5removing provisions which are duplicative of the federal
6prohibition on release and use of personal information
7contained in state motor vehicle records under the federal
8Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994; referencing
9federal law as controlling with respect to the
10confidentiality and release of such records; providing
11that such information received pursuant to federal law may
12not be used for mass commercial solicitation of clients
13for litigation against motor vehicle dealers; reorganizing
14provisions; making editorial and conforming changes;
15repealing s. 2, ch. 2004-62, Laws of Florida, which
16provides for repeal of the exemption; providing an
17effective date.
18
19Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21     Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 119.0712, Florida
22Statutes, is amended to read:
23     119.0712  Executive branch agency-specific exemptions from
24inspection or copying of public records.--
25     (2)  DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES.--
26     (a)  For purposes of this subsection, the term "motor
27vehicle record" means any record that pertains to a motor
28vehicle operator's permit, motor vehicle title, motor vehicle
29registration, or identification card issued by the Department of
30Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
31     (b)  Personal information, including highly restricted
32personal information as defined in 18 U.S.C. s. 2725, contained
33in a motor vehicle record is confidential pursuant to the
34federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994, 18 U.S.C. ss.
352721 et seq. Such information may be released only as authorized
36by that act; however, information received pursuant to that act
37may not be used for mass commercial solicitation of clients for
38litigation against motor vehicle dealers.
39     (c)1.  Emergency contact information Personal information
40contained in a motor vehicle record that identifies an
41individual is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
4224(a), Art. I of the State Constitution except as provided in
43this subsection. Personal information includes, but is not
44limited to, an individual's social security number, driver
45identification number or identification card number, name,
46address, telephone number, medical or disability information,
47and emergency contact information. For purposes of this
48subsection, personal information does not include information
49relating to vehicular crashes, driving violations, and driver's
50status. For purposes of this subsection, the term "motor vehicle
51record" means any record that pertains to a motor vehicle
52operator's permit, motor vehicle title, motor vehicle
53registration, or identification card issued by the Department of
54Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
55     (b)  Personal information contained in motor vehicle
56records made confidential and exempt by this subsection may be
57released by the department for any of the following uses:
58     1.  For use in connection with matters of motor vehicle or
59driver safety and theft; motor vehicle emissions; motor vehicle
60product alterations, recalls, or advisories; performance
61monitoring of motor vehicles and dealers by motor vehicle
62manufacturers; and removal of nonowner records from the original
63owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers, to carry out the
64purposes of Titles I and IV of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992,
65the Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. ss. 1231 et
66seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et seq.), and
67chapters 301, 305, and 321-331 of Title 49, United States Code.
68     2.  For use by any government agency, including any court
69or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its functions, or any
70private person or entity acting on behalf of a federal, state,
71or local agency in carrying out its functions.
72     3.  For use in connection with matters of motor vehicle or
73driver safety and theft; motor vehicle emissions; motor vehicle
74product alterations, recalls, or advisories; performance
75monitoring of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, and dealers;
76motor vehicle market research activities, including survey
77research; and removal of nonowner records from the original
78owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers.
79     4.  For use in the normal course of business by a
80legitimate business or its agents, employees, or contractors,
81but only:
82     a.  To verify the accuracy of personal information
83submitted by the individual to the business or its agents,
84employees, or contractors; and
85     b.  If such information as so submitted is not correct or
86is no longer correct, to obtain the correct information, but
87only for the purposes of preventing fraud by, pursuing legal
88remedies against, or recovering on a debt or security interest
89against, the individual.
90     5.  For use in connection with any civil, criminal,
91administrative, or arbitral proceeding in any court or agency or
92before any self-regulatory body for:
93     a.  Service of process by any certified process server,
94special process server, or other person authorized to serve
95process in this state.
96     b.  Investigation in anticipation of litigation by an
97attorney licensed to practice law in this state or the agent of
98the attorney; however, the information may not be used for mass
99commercial solicitation of clients for litigation against motor
100vehicle dealers.
101     c.  Investigation by any person in connection with any
102filed proceeding; however, the information may not be used for
103mass commercial solicitation of clients for litigation against
104motor vehicle dealers.
105     d.  Execution or enforcement of judgments and orders.
106     e.  Compliance with an order of any court.
107     6.  For use in research activities and for use in producing
108statistical reports, so long as the personal information is not
109published, redisclosed, or used to contact individuals.
110     7.  For use by any insurer or insurance support
111organization, or by a self-insured entity, or its agents,
112employees, or contractors, in connection with claims
113investigation activities, anti-fraud activities, rating, or
114underwriting.
115     8.  For use in providing notice to the owners of towed or
116impounded vehicles.
117     9.  For use by any licensed private investigative agency or
118licensed security service for any purpose permitted under this
119subsection. Personal information obtained based on an exempt
120driver's record may not be provided to a client who cannot
121demonstrate a need based on a police report, court order, or
122business or personal relationship with the subject of the
123investigation.
124     10.  For use by an employer or its agent or insurer to
125obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a
126commercial driver's license that is required under 49 U.S.C. ss.
12731301 et seq.
128     11.  For use in connection with the operation of private
129toll transportation facilities.
130     12.  For bulk distribution for surveys, marketing, or
131solicitations when the department has obtained the express
132consent of the person to whom such personal information
133pertains.
134     13.  For any use if the requesting person demonstrates that
135he or she has obtained the written consent of the person who is
136the subject of the motor vehicle record.
137     14.  For any other use specifically authorized by state
138law, if such use is related to the operation of a motor vehicle
139or public safety.
140     15.  For any other use if the person to whom the
141information pertains has given express consent in a format
142prescribed by the department. Such consent shall remain in
143effect until it is revoked by the person on a form prescribed by
144the department.
145     2.(c)  Notwithstanding paragraph (b), Without the express
146consent of the person to whom such emergency contact information
147applies, the emergency contact following information contained
148in a motor vehicle record records may only be released as
149specified in this paragraph:
150     1.  Social security numbers may be released only as
151provided in subparagraphs (b)2., 5., 7., and 10.
152     2.  An individual's photograph or image may be released
153only as provided in s. 322.142.
154     3.  Medical disability information may be released only as
155provided in ss. 322.125 and 322.126.
156     4.  Emergency contact information may be released only to
157law enforcement agencies for purposes of contacting those listed
158in the event of an emergency.
159     (d)  The restrictions on disclosure of personal information
160provided by this subsection shall not in any way affect the use
161of organ donation information on individual driver licenses or
162affect the administration of organ donation initiatives in this
163state.
164     (e)1.  Personal information made confidential and exempt
165may be disclosed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
166Vehicles to an individual, firm, corporation, or similar
167business entity whose primary business interest is to resell or
168redisclose the personal information to persons who are
169authorized to receive such information. Prior to the
170department's disclosure of personal information, such
171individual, firm, corporation, or similar business entity must
172first enter into a contract with the department regarding the
173care, custody, and control of the personal information to ensure
174compliance with the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of
1751994 and applicable state laws.
176     2.  An authorized recipient of personal information
177contained in a motor vehicle record, except a recipient under
178subparagraph (b)12., may contract with the Department of Highway
179Safety and Motor Vehicles to resell or redisclose the
180information for any use permitted under this section. However,
181only authorized recipients of personal information under
182subparagraph (b)12. may resell or redisclose personal
183information pursuant to subparagraph (b)12.
184     3.  Any authorized recipient who resells or rediscloses
185personal information shall maintain, for a period of 5 years,
186records identifying each person or entity that receives the
187personal information and the permitted purpose for which it will
188be used. Such records shall be made available for inspection
189upon request by the department.
190     (d)(f)  The department may adopt rules to carry out the
191purposes of this subsection and the federal Driver's Privacy
192Protection Act of 1994, 18 U.S.C. ss. 2721 et seq. Rules adopted
193by the department may provide for the payment of applicable fees
194and, prior to the disclosure of personal information pursuant to
195this subsection or the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act
196of 1994, 18 U.S.C. ss. 2721 et seq., may require the meeting of
197conditions by the requesting person for the purposes of
198obtaining reasonable assurance concerning the identity of such
199requesting person, and, to the extent required, assurance that
200the use will be only as authorized or that the consent of the
201person who is the subject of the personal information has been
202obtained. Such conditions may include, but need not be limited
203to, the making and filing of a written application in such form
204and containing such information and certification requirements
205as the department requires.
206     (g)  This subsection is subject to the Open Government
207Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
208repealed October 2, 2012, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
209through reenactment by the Legislature.
210     Section 2.  Section 2 of chapter 2004-62, Laws of Florida,
211is repealed.
212     Section 3.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2009.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.