House Bill hb0125B

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001               HB 125-B

        By Representatives Gelber, Harrell, Green, Ball, Bullard
    and Cusack





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to public records and meetings;

  3         amending s. 281.301, F.S.; expanding an

  4         exemption from public records requirements for

  5         security system plans or portions thereof for

  6         any property owned by or leased to the state or

  7         any of its political subdivisions, or any

  8         privately owned or leased property, that are in

  9         the possession of state agencies; expanding an

10         exemption from public meeting requirements for

11         meetings at which such plans are discussed;

12         providing for future review and repeal;

13         providing a statement of public necessity;

14         providing an effective date.

15

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17

18         Section 1.  Section 281.301, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         281.301  Security system plans systems; records and

21  meetings exempt from public access or disclosure.--

22         (1)  A security system plan or portion thereof

23  Information relating to the security systems for:

24         (a)  Any property owned by or leased to the state or

25  any of its political subdivisions; or, and information

26  relating to the security systems for

27         (b)  Any privately owned or leased property

28

29  which plan or portion thereof is in the possession of any

30  agency as defined in s. 119.011(2) is confidential and exempt

31  from the requirements of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001               HB 125-B

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  1  the State Constitution. Those portions of any meeting relating

  2  directly to, or which would reveal, a security system plan or

  3  portion thereof are confidential and exempt from the

  4  requirements of s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State

  5  Constitution. A security system plan includes, including all

  6  records, information, photographs, audio and visual

  7  presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendations,

  8  or consultations or portions thereof relating directly to or

  9  revealing security systems, threat assessments conducted by

10  any agency as defined in s. 119.011(2) or any private entity,

11  threat-response plans, emergency evacuation plans, sheltering

12  arrangements, or manuals for security personnel, emergency

13  equipment, or for security training such systems or

14  information, and all meetings relating directly to or that

15  would reveal such systems or information are confidential and

16  exempt from ss. 119.07(1) and 286.011 and other laws and rules

17  requiring public access or disclosure.

18         (2)  This section is subject to the Open Government

19  Sunset Review Act of 1995, in accordance with s. 119.15, and

20  shall stand repealed on October 2, 2007, unless reviewed and

21  saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

22         Section 2.  The Legislature finds that the expansion of

23  the exemption from public records and public meetings

24  requirements provided by this act is a public necessity

25  because security system plans are a vital component of public

26  safety. Security system plans contain components that address

27  safety issues for public and private property on which public

28  business is conducted and address the security of private

29  property on which a large segment of the public relies. The

30  public relies on radio and television towers, telephone and

31  cable lines, power plants and grids, oil and gas pipelines,

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001               HB 125-B

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  1  and many types of privately owned infrastructure to provide

  2  necessary services. To coordinate the response of the public

  3  sector and the private sector in an emergency, such as an act

  4  of terrorism, public agencies must be able to review security

  5  system plans for public and private property. If the

  6  information in security system plans is available for

  7  inspection and copying, terrorists could use this information

  8  to hamper or disable emergency response preparedness,

  9  increasing injuries and fatalities. Although some skill would

10  be required to use such information to further an act of

11  terrorism, ample evidence of the capabilities of terrorists to

12  conduct complicated acts of terrorism exists. The September

13  11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,

14  as well as the intentional spread of anthrax in this country

15  and state, which resulted in the death of one Floridian,

16  provide evidence that such capabilities exist. These events

17  also have shown the importance of a coordinated response to

18  acts of terrorism and the need for the review of public and

19  private security system plans. Consequently, the Legislature

20  finds that security system plans and meetings related thereto

21  must be kept confidential.

22         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

23  law.

24

25            *****************************************

26                       LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

27
      Provides an exemption from public records and public
28    meetings requirements for information concerning security
      system plans or portions thereof for any property owned
29    by or leased to the state or any of its political
      subdivisions, or any privately owned or leased property,
30    that are in the possession of a state agency. Provides a
      statement of public necessity and for future review and
31    repeal of the exemptions.

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