The Florida Senate

560.121  Records; limited restrictions upon public access.--

(1)(a)  Orders of courts or of administrative law judges for the production of confidential records or information shall provide for inspection in camera by the court or the administrative law judge and, after the court or administrative law judge has made a determination that the documents requested are relevant or would likely lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, said documents shall be subject to further orders by the court or the administrative law judge to protect the confidentiality thereof. Any order directing the release of information shall be immediately reviewable, and a petition by the department for review of such order shall automatically stay further proceedings in the trial court or the administrative hearing until the disposition of such petition by the reviewing court. If any other party files such a petition for review, it will operate as a stay of such proceedings only upon order of the reviewing court.

(b)  Confidential records and information furnished pursuant to a legislative subpoena shall be kept confidential by the legislative body or committee which receives the records or information, except in a case involving investigation of charges against a public official subject to impeachment or removal, and then disclosure of such information shall be only to the extent determined by the legislative body or committee to be necessary.

(2)  Examination reports, investigatory records, applications, and related information compiled by the department, or photographic copies thereof, shall be retained by the department for a period of at least 10 years.

(3)  A copy of any document on file with the department which is certified by the department as being a true copy may be introduced in evidence as if it were the original. The department shall establish a schedule of fees for preparing true copies of documents.

(4)  Any person who willfully discloses information made confidential by this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.--s. 1, ch. 94-238; s. 1, ch. 94-354; s. 253, ch. 96-410.