HB 7001 — OGSR/Reporter of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect
by Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee and Rep. Tramont (SB 7036 by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
The Open Government Sunset Review Act requires the Legislature to review each public record exemption and each public meeting exemption five years after enactment. If the Legislature does not reenact the exemption, it automatically repeals on October 2nd of the fifth year after enactment.
The Department of Children and Families operates the Florida central abuse hotline (hotline), which accepts reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any person who knows or suspects that a child is abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person responsible for the child’s welfare must report such information or suspicion to the hotline. Current law provides a public record exemption for the name of any person reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as well as other identifying information of such reporter.
The bill saves from repeal the public record exemption concerning all identifying information of a person other than a person’s name, which is already protected by law reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, the bill takes effect October 1, 2024.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 114-0