ENROLLED HB 1039 |
2003 Legislature |
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A bill to be entitled |
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An act relating to a public records exemption for |
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investigative information held by the Division of Florida |
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Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes of the |
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Department of Business and Professional Regulation; |
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amending s. 498.047, F.S.; making conforming and editorial |
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changes; removing the October 2, 2003, repeal thereof |
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scheduled under the Open Government Sunset Review Act of |
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1995; providing an effective date. |
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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Section 1. Notwithstanding the October 2, 2003, repeal of |
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said subsection scheduled pursuant to the Open Government Sunset |
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Review Act of 1995, subsection (8) of section 498.047, Florida |
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Statutes, is amended to read: |
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498.047 Investigations.-- |
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(8)(a) Information held by the Division of Florida Land |
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Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile HomesExcept as otherwise |
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provided by this subsection, informationrelative to an |
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investigation by the divisionpursuant to this chapter, |
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including any consumer complaint, is confidential and exempt |
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from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State |
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Constitution, until 10 days after a notice to show cause has |
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been filed by the division, or, in the case in which no notice |
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to show cause is filed, the investigation is completed or ceases |
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to be active. For purposes of this section, an investigation |
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shall be considered "active" so long as the division or any law |
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enforcement or administrative agency or regulatory organization |
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is proceeding with reasonable dispatch and has a reasonable good |
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faith belief that the investigation may lead to the filing of an |
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administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding or to the denial |
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or conditional grant of a license or registration. However, in |
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response to a specific inquiry about the registration status of |
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a registered or unregistered subdivider, the division may |
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disclose the existence and the status of an active |
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investigation. This subsection shall not be construed to |
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prohibit disclosure of information which is required by law to |
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be filed with the division and which, but for the investigation, |
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would be subject to s. 119.07(1). |
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(b) Except as necessary for the division to enforce the |
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provisions of this chapter,A consumer complaint and other |
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information relative to an investigation shall remain |
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confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I |
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of the State Constitution, after the filing of a notice to show |
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cause or the investigation is completed or ceases to be active |
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to the extent disclosure would: |
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1. Jeopardize the integrity of another active |
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investigation. |
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2. Reveal the name, address, telephone number, social |
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security number, or any other identifying number or information |
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of any purchaser or account holder, or social security number or |
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any account number of a complainant. |
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3. Reveal a trade secret as defined in s. 688.002. |
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(c) TheNothing in this subsection shall be construed to |
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prohibit the division may provide confidential and exempt from |
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providinginformation to any law enforcement or administrative |
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agency or regulatory organization when such agency or |
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organization makes the request in connection with its official |
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duties. Any law enforcement or administrative agency or |
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regulatory organization receiving confidential and exempt |
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information in connection with its official duties shall |
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maintain the confidential and exempt statusconfidentialityof |
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the information as provided for in this subsection. |
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(d) If information subject to this subsection is offered |
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in evidence in any administrative, civil, or criminal |
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proceeding, the presiding officer may, in his or her discretion, |
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prevent the disclosure of information which would be |
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confidential and exemptpursuant to paragraph (b). |
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This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review |
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Act of 1995 in accordance with s. 119.15, and shall stand |
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repealed on October 2, 2003, unless reviewed and saved from |
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repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2003. |