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CS/HB 1127 — Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact
by Ethics, Elections and Open Government Subcommittee and Reps. Smith, Hunschofsky, and others (SB 1448 by Senator Wright)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K -12 Committee (ED)
The bill creates an exemption from public records requirements for records held by the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) or Department of Education regarding the investigation and discipline of teachers in other Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (ITMC or Compact) member states. This public records exemption is aligned to the existing public records exemption for Florida’s teacher investigation and discipline records. As set forth in the ITMC, the bill requires that before disclosing any disciplinary or investigatory information received from another member state, the disclosing state must communicate its intention and purpose for such disclosure to the member state that originally provided that information.
The bill creates an exemption from public meetings requirements for any meeting or portion of a meeting of the ITMC Commission or executive committee which discuss information specified in law.
The bill provides that public records and public meeting exemptions are a public necessity because without these protections for records received by the commissioner or DOE, or for ITMC Commission meetings, Florida would be unable to participate in the ITMC.
This bill is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and stands repealed on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect on the same date that CS/HB 1125 takes effect.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 115-0