Florida Senate - 2016                                    SB 1338
       
       
        
       By Senator Bean
       
       4-00306B-16                                           20161338__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records; creating s.
    3         1006.1475, F.S.; providing an exemption from public
    4         records requirements for all information reported by a
    5         student or parent, including any personal identifying
    6         information of the student or parent, to an agency
    7         through a school tip line that is saved on an audio
    8         recording or transcript; providing an exception to the
    9         exemption for law enforcement agents; providing for
   10         future legislative review and repeal of the exemption;
   11         providing a statement of public necessity; providing
   12         an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Section 1006.1475, Florida Statutes, is created
   17  to read:
   18         1006.1475 School tip lines; public records exemption.—
   19         (1) All information reported by a student or parent,
   20  including any personal identifying information of the student or
   21  parent, to an agency, as defined in s. 119.011, through a school
   22  tip line that is saved on an audio recording or transcript is
   23  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I
   24  of the State Constitution. Such confidential and exempt
   25  information may not be disclosed to anyone other than a law
   26  enforcement agent in the discharge of his or her official
   27  duties.
   28         (2) This section is subject to the Open Government Sunset
   29  Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed
   30  on October 2, 2021, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
   31  through reenactment by the Legislature.
   32         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   33  necessity that all information reported by a student or parent,
   34  including any personal identifying information of the student or
   35  parent, to an agency, as defined in s. 119.011, Florida
   36  Statutes, through a school tip line that is saved on an audio
   37  recording or transcript be made exempt from s. 119.07(1),
   38  Florida Statues, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State
   39  Constitution. School tip lines provide valuable information that
   40  can prevent attacks and bullying, solve crimes, and provide
   41  essential information to law enforcement personnel and school
   42  administrators. School tip lines are effective only if an
   43  individual believes that he or she can submit information in a
   44  safe and confidential manner. The Legislature finds that the
   45  release of an audio recording, a transcript, or an individual’s
   46  personal identifying information may place the individual in
   47  danger of physical or emotional harm from others. The
   48  Legislature further finds that the harm that may result from the
   49  release of such information outweighs any public benefit that
   50  may be derived from the disclosure of the information.
   51         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.