SB 1210                                         Second Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       20231210e2
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records; amending s.
    3         943.0583, F.S.; providing that a petition for human
    4         trafficking victim expunction and all pleadings and
    5         documents related to the petition are confidential and
    6         exempt from public records requirements; providing for
    7         future legislative review and repeal under the Open
    8         Government Sunset Review Act; providing a statement of
    9         public necessity; providing an effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (12) is added to section 943.0583,
   14  Florida Statutes, to read:
   15         943.0583 Human trafficking victim expunction.—
   16         (12)(a) A petition filed under this section and all
   17  pleadings and documents related to the petition are confidential
   18  and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
   19  Constitution.
   20         (b) This subsection is subject to the Open Government
   21  Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and is repealed
   22  on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
   23  through reenactment by the Legislature.
   24         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   25  necessity that a petition filed under s. 943.0583, Florida
   26  Statutes, and all pleadings and documents related to the
   27  petition be made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1),
   28  Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State
   29  Constitution. Persons who are victims of human trafficking and
   30  who have been arrested, charged, or convicted of offenses
   31  committed, or reported to have been committed, as a result of
   32  being trafficked are themselves victims of crimes. These victims
   33  face barriers to employment and loss of other life
   34  opportunities, and the fact that the victims are seeking
   35  expungement, as well as the information contained in related
   36  pleadings and documents, would expose these victims to possible
   37  discrimination due to details of their past lives becoming
   38  public knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary that these
   39  petitions, pleadings, and related documents be made confidential
   40  in order for human trafficking victims to have the chance to
   41  rebuild their lives and reenter society.
   42         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.