CS/HB 463

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to public records and public meetings
3exemptions; amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; exempting from
4public records requirements records relating to drug tests
5and to challenge and appeal proceedings under the Florida
6High School Athletic Association's random drug testing
7program; exempting from public meetings requirements the
8portions of a meeting at which records relating to drug
9tests or to challenge or appeal proceedings will be
10discussed; providing for future review and repeal;
11providing a statement of public necessity; providing a
12contingent effective date.
13
14Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16     Section 1.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section
171006.20, Florida Statutes, as created by Committee Substitute
18for HB 461, 2007 Regular Session, is amended to read:
19     1006.20  Athletics in public K-12 schools.--
20     (10)  RANDOM DRUG TESTING PROGRAM.--
21     (b)  The organization's board of directors shall establish
22procedures for the conduct of the program that, at a minimum,
23shall provide for the following:
24     1.  The organization shall select and enter into a contract
25with a testing agency that will administer the testing program.
26The laboratory utilized by the testing agency to analyze
27specimens shall be accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
28     2.  Each member school shall report to the organization the
29names of all students who will represent the school in football,
30baseball, and weightlifting. A student shall not be eligible to
31participate in interscholastic athletics in any of these sports
32in a member school until the student's name has been reported to
33the organization by the school.
34     3.  The organization shall provide to the testing agency
35all names of students that are submitted by its member schools.
36A maximum of 1 percent of the total number of students who
37participate in football, baseball, and weightlifting shall be
38randomly selected by the testing agency to undergo testing.
39     4.  The testing agency shall notify not fewer than 7 days
40in advance both the administration of a school and the
41organization of the date on which its representatives will be
42present at the school to collect a specimen from a randomly
43selected student. However, the name of the student from which a
44specimen is to be collected shall not be disclosed.
45     5.  Records relating to drug tests under this subsection
46and to the challenge and appeal proceedings under paragraph (h)
47shall be maintained separately from a student's educational
48records.
49     6.a.  Records relating to drug tests under this subsection
50and to the challenge or appeal proceedings under paragraph (h)
51are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art.
52I of the State Constitution. This subparagraph is subject to the
53Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15
54and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2012, unless reviewed and
55saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
56     b.  Information made confidential and exempt under sub-
57subparagraph a. may only be disclosed to the organization, the
58student, the student's parent, the administration of the
59student's school, and the administration of any school to which
60the student may transfer during a suspension from participation
61in interscholastic athletics resulting from a positive finding.
62The entities or persons receiving such information shall
63maintain the confidential and exempt status of the information.
64     7.  The portions of a meeting at which records are
65presented or discussed that are confidential and exempt under
66subparagraph 6. are exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I
67of the State Constitution. This subparagraph is subject to the
68Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15
69and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2012, unless reviewed and
70saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
71     Section 2.  The Legislature finds that it is a public
72necessity for the records relating to drug tests administered,
73and to the challenge or appeal proceedings occurring, under s.
741006.20(10), Florida Statutes, to be made confidential and
75exempt from public records requirements. The Legislature finds
76that harm caused by releasing such information outweighs any
77public benefit that might be derived from releasing the
78information. Such information is of a sensitive and personal
79nature, could be used to discriminate against a student, and
80could cause harm to a student's reputation. The Legislature
81further finds that it is a public necessity for the portions of
82a meeting at which the records of drug tests or of challenge or
83appeal proceedings under s. 1006.20(10), Florida Statutes, are
84presented or discussed to be made exempt from public meetings
85requirements. The Legislature finds that the exemption of these
86proceedings from public meetings requirements minimizes the
87possibility of unnecessary scrutiny by the public or media of
88sensitive, personal information concerning a student.
89Furthermore, without such exemption, release of confidential and
90exempt information via a public meeting defeats the purpose of
91the public records exemption.
92     Section 3.  This act shall take effect on the same date
93that Committee Substitute for HB 461 or similar legislation
94takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same
95legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.