Senate Bill 1596c1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 CS for SB 1596
By the Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care; and
Senator Bronson
317-2039-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public records; providing an
3 exemption from public records requirements for
4 court documents that might identify a pregnant
5 minor who petitions for a waiver of the notice
6 requirements pertaining to her request to have
7 her pregnancy terminated; providing findings of
8 public necessity; providing a contingent
9 effective date.
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11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. When a minor petitions a circuit court for
14 a waiver of the notice requirements pertaining to a minor
15 seeking to terminate her pregnancy, any information in
16 documents related to the petition which could be used to
17 identify the minor is confidential and exempt from section
18 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and Section 24 (a) of Article I
19 of the State Constitution.
20 Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
21 necessity that information in court records identifying a
22 minor who has petitioned the court for a waiver of parental
23 notification requirements be confidential and exempt from
24 public records requirements because disclosure of such
25 information is not in the best interest of the minor. In
26 addition, the Legislature finds that public disclosure of
27 identifying information may expose minors who have been
28 physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected by a parent
29 or guardian to the risk of retribution.
30 Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date
31 that Senate Bill 1598 or similar legislation creating the
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 CS for SB 1596
317-2039-99
1 "Parental Notice of Abortion Act" takes effect, if such
2 legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an
3 extension thereof.
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5 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
6 Senate Bill 1596
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8 Clarifies that the public records exemption applies to any
information in court documents which might identify a minor
9 petitioning the court for a waiver of parental notification
requirements. Clarifies that the exemption is necessary
10 because the release of identifying information is not in the
best interest of the minor, and may expose her to the risk of
11 retribution in instances of physical or sexual abuse or
neglect.
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