Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1042
       
       
        
       By Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00764C-22                                           20221042__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records; amending s. 402.88,
    3         F.S.; providing an exemption from public records
    4         requirements for all records, data, information,
    5         correspondence, and communications relating to the
    6         enrollment of persons in the registry of persons with
    7         special needs; providing exceptions; authorizing law
    8         enforcement agencies, county emergency management
    9         agencies, and local fire departments to further
   10         disclose confidential and exempt information under
   11         certain circumstances; providing for future
   12         legislative review and repeal of the exemption;
   13         providing a statement of public necessity; providing
   14         for retroactive application; providing a contingent
   15         effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 402.88,
   20  Florida Statutes, as created by SB ____ or similar legislation,
   21  to read:
   22         402.88 Registry of persons with special needs in law
   23  enforcement interactions; public records exemption.—
   24         (3)(a)All records, data, information, correspondence, and
   25  communications relating to the enrollment of persons as provided
   26  in subsection (1) and such information included in any locally
   27  maintained registry that is substantially similar to the
   28  registry in subsection (1) are confidential and exempt from s.
   29  119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and may
   30  not be disclosed except, upon request, to a law enforcement
   31  agency, a county emergency management agency, or a local fire
   32  department or as otherwise specifically authorized by this
   33  section.
   34         (b)A law enforcement agency, county emergency management
   35  agency, or local fire department in possession of materials
   36  described in paragraph (a) may further disclose information
   37  contained in such materials to others not specifically listed
   38  only as follows:
   39         1. With the express written consent of the registry
   40  enrollee or the legally authorized representative of such
   41  enrollee;
   42         2.In a medical emergency;
   43         3.By court order upon a finding of good cause;
   44         4.To another governmental agency in the performance of its
   45  duties and responsibilities; or
   46         5.In the interest of public safety, to assist in locating
   47  the enrollee, or to promote the safety or well-being of the
   48  enrollee, as determined by the law enforcement agency.
   49         (c)This subsection is subject to the Open Government
   50  Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
   51  repealed on October 2, 2027, unless reviewed and saved from
   52  repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
   53         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   54  necessity to make all records, data, information,
   55  correspondence, and communications relating to the enrollment of
   56  persons in the registry of persons with special needs under s.
   57  402.88, Florida Statutes, confidential and exempt from s.
   58  119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the
   59  State Constitution. Such records would likely include
   60  confidential medical information and sensitive personal
   61  information about the persons listed in the registry. The
   62  potential disclosure of such information would deter persons
   63  from being enrolled in the registry, which would then deprive
   64  law enforcement officers of information that would better enable
   65  them to interact with such persons in safe and appropriate ways.
   66         Section 3. The exemption created in s. 402.88(3), Florida
   67  Statutes, applies retroactively to such confidential and exempt
   68  information held by a law enforcement agency, a county emergency
   69  management agency, or a local fire department before the
   70  effective date of this act.
   71         Section 4. This act shall take effect on the same date that
   72  SB ____ or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation
   73  is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension
   74  thereof and becomes a law.