HB 0251 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to library records; amending s. 257.261,
3	F.S.; revising provisions relating to confidentiality of
4	public library registration and circulation records to
5	authorize disclosure of information to the parent or
6	guardian of a library patron under age 16, for the purpose
7	of collecting fines or recovering overdue books or other
8	materials; providing an effective date.
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10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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12	Section 1. Section 257.261, Florida Statutes, is amended
13	to read:
14	257.261 Library registration and circulation records.--All
15	registration and circulation records of every public library,
16	except statistical reports of registration and circulation, are
17	confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and
18	from s. 24(a) of Art. I of the State Constitution. Except in
19	accordance with proper judicial order, a person may not make
20	known in any manner any information contained in such records,
21	except as provided in this section. As used in this section,
22	the term "registration records" includes any information that a
23	library requires a patron to provide in order to become eligible
24	to borrow books and other materials, and the term "circulation
25	records" includes all information that identifies the patrons
26	who borrow particular books and other materials. This section
27	does not prohibit any library, or any business operating jointly
28	with the library, from disclosing information tothe parent or
29	guardian of a public library patron under the age of 16
30	municipal or county law enforcement officials, or to judicial
31	officials, for the purpose ofcollecting fines orrecovering
32	overdue books, documents, films, or other items or materials
33	owned or otherwise belonging to the library. This section does
34	not prohibit any library, or any business operating jointly with
35	the library, from disclosing information to municipal or county
36	law enforcement officials or to judicial officials or to any
37	business for the purpose of collecting fines orrecovering
38	overdue books, documents, films, or other items or materials
39	owned or otherwise belonging to the library. In the case of a
40	public library patron under the age of 16,however, theapublic
41	libraryor business entitymay only release confidential
42	information relating to the parent or guardian of the person
43	under 16. Any person who violates this sectioncommitsis guilty
44	ofa misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in
45	s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
46	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
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