HOUSE AMENDMENT
                                                  Bill No. HB 1083   Barcode 425227
    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  Representative(s) Gelber and McGriff offered the following:
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13         Amendment to Substitute Amendment (822831) (with title
14  amendment) 
15         On page 1, line 18 through page 4, line 31,
16  remove from the substitute amendment:  all of said lines
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18  and insert in lieu thereof:  
19         Section 1.  (1)  All photographs, audio recordings, or
20  video recordings of an autopsy in the possession of a district
21  medical examiner pursuant to chapter 406 are confidential and
22  exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1), and s. 24(a),
23  Article I of the State Constitution, except as otherwise
24  provided herein.  Photographs, audio recordings, and video
25  recordings of an autopsy made confidential and exempt by this
26  section shall be disclosed for viewing or listening in all
27  cases, but may only be copied:
28         (a)  Pursuant to a written waiver by the surviving
29  spouse.  If there is no surviving spouse, then pursuant to a
30  written waiver by a surviving parent; and, if there is no
31  surviving spouse or parent, then pursuant to written waiver by
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    File original & 9 copies    03/22/01                          
    hmo0006                     12:02 pm         01083-0106-425227

HOUSE AMENDMENT Bill No. HB 1083 Barcode 425227 Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only) 1 an adult child of the deceased; or 2 (b) Pursuant to a written request by a local 3 government, state agency, or federal agency, in the 4 furtherance of its official duties; and, unless otherwise 5 required in the performance of their duties, the identity of 6 the deceased shall remain confidential and exempt. 7 (2) Any person may petition the court for an order to 8 make the photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings 9 available for copying. Pursuant to such a public records 10 petition, and the petitioner's showing of good cause, the 11 court may authorize copying pursuant to the terms and 12 conditions which it deems appropriate; provided that the 13 surviving spouse is given reasonable notice of the petition, 14 and a copy of the petition, and reasonable notice of the 15 opportunity to be present and heard at any hearing on the 16 matter. If there is no surviving spouse, then such notice must 17 be given to the deceased's parents, and if the deceased has no 18 living parents, then to the adult children of the deceased. 19 In determining good cause the court shall consider: 20 a) The necessity of the copying in determining 21 governmental accountability; 22 b) The ramifications of the copying with respect to 23 the family's right to privacy; and 24 c) The availability of similar information in other 25 forms. 26 (3) The viewing or copying of an autopsy photograph, 27 audio recording, or video recording pursuant to this section 28 shall be under the direct supervision of the custodian of the 29 record or his or her designee. 30 (4) The district medical examiner or associate medical 31 examiner, in his or her official capacity, may use the 2 File original & 9 copies 03/22/01 hmo0006 12:02 pm 01083-0106-425227
HOUSE AMENDMENT Bill No. HB 1083 Barcode 425227 Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only) 1 photographs or video recordings for the purposes of seeking 2 another expert medical opinion, for providing professional 3 training, for case-related medical or scientific research 4 purposes, or for other purposes solely related to the 5 accomplishment of the district or associate medical examiner's 6 duties and responsibilities. However, the identity of the 7 deceased shall remain confidential and exempt, unless a waiver 8 has been obtained as provided for in subsection (1)(a). 9 (5) Any person who willfully or knowingly violates 10 this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable 11 as provided in ss. 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084. 12 (6) This exemption shall be given retroactive 13 application. This section is subject to the Open Government 14 Sunset Review Act of 1995 in accordance with s. 119.15, and 15 shall stand repealed on October 2, 2006, unless reviewed and 16 saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 17 Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 18 necessity that copies of photographs, audio recordings, or 19 video recordings of an autopsy be made confidential and 20 exempt. Photographs, audio recordings, or video recordings of 21 an autopsy are highly sensitive, graphic depictions of the 22 deceased, which, if copied, or publicized, could result in 23 trauma, sorrow, humiliation, or emotional injury to the 24 immediate family of the deceased, and is an invasion of that 25 family's privacy, as well as injurious to the memories of the 26 deceased. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that the 27 existence of the World Wide Web and the proliferation of 28 personal computers throughout the world encourages and 29 promotes the worldwide dissemination of photographs and video 30 recordings 24 hours a day, and that widespread dissemination 31 of autopsy photographs and video recordings would subject the 3 File original & 9 copies 03/22/01 hmo0006 12:02 pm 01083-0106-425227
HOUSE AMENDMENT Bill No. HB 1083 Barcode 425227 Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only) 1 immediate family of the deceased to continuous injury. The 2 Legislature further finds that there are other types of 3 available information, such as the autopsy report, which is 4 less intrusive and injurious to the immediate family member of 5 the deceased but which continues to provide for public 6 oversight. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that it is a 7 public necessity that the exemption provided in this act be 8 given retroactive application because it is remedial in 9 nature. 10 11 12 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 13 And the title is amended as follows: 14 On page 5, lines 13 through 31, of the amendment 15 remove from the title of the amendment: all of said lines 16 17 and insert in lieu thereof: 18 An act relating to public records; providing an 19 exemption from the public records law for 20 copying photographs and video and audio 21 recordings of an autopsy; providing an 22 exemption for certain members of the immediate 23 family, or a representative thereof, or a state 24 or federal agency; providing for further 25 exceptions to the exemption; providing a 26 penalty; providing for future legislative 27 28 29 30 31 4 File original & 9 copies 03/22/01 hmo0006 12:02 pm 01083-0106-425227