HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                  Bill No. HB 1081

    Amendment No. 01 (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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 5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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11  The Committee on Governmental Operations offered the

12  following:

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14         Amendment 

15         On page 2, lines 1 through page 3, line 5,

16  remove from the bill:  all of said lines

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18  and insert in lieu thereof:

19         Section 2.  The Legislature finds that it is a public

20  necessity that the personal information of employees of health

21  care facilities specified in this act be exempt from public

22  records requirements. Employees in these facilities provide

23  treatment and care to a wide spectrum of individuals

24  including, among others, prisoners, criminal suspects brought

25  for treatment by local law enforcement officers prior to

26  incarceration, patients under the influence of drugs or

27  alcohol at the time of treatment, and patients who have been

28  admitted for treatment of mental illnesses, including

29  involuntary admissions under the Baker Act. It is not uncommon

30  for employees of these facilities to be threatened by patients

31  or family members of patients who may be angry or upset with

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    File original & 9 copies    03/30/99
    hgo0002                     04:53 pm         01081-go  -634941




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                  Bill No. HB 1081

    Amendment No. 01 (for drafter's use only)





 1  the nature of the treatment or the circumstances under which

 2  it has been provided. If these individuals gain access to the

 3  personal information specified in this act, then they could

 4  use the information to threaten, intimidate, harass, or cause

 5  physical harm or other injury to the employees of these health

 6  care facilities or their families. This concern is not mere

 7  speculation. Incidents have occurred in which patients have

 8  inflicted injuries upon health care providers which have

 9  resulted in the death of the provider. The Legislature further

10  finds that incidents have occurred in which the personal

11  records of employees have been requested under circumstances

12  which could have threatened the safety or welfare of the

13  employees or their families, whether or not actual harm

14  resulted. Because release of this personal information would

15  not benefit the public or aid it in monitoring the effective

16  and efficient operation of government, but could result in

17  harm to the specified employees or their families, the

18  Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that the

19  personal information specified in this act be exempt from

20  public records requirements. This exemption is consistent with

21  the longstanding policy of the state as reflected in s.

22  119.07(3)(i), Florida Statutes.

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    File original & 9 copies    03/30/99
    hgo0002                     04:53 pm         01081-go  -634941