Florida Senate - 2022 SB 978 By Senator Rouson 19-01137-22 2022978__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to public records; providing an 3 exemption from public records requirements for 4 personal identifying information in applications 5 submitted to the Department of State by persons 6 seeking certification as victims of Florida reform 7 school abuse; providing for future legislative review 8 and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of 9 public necessity; providing a contingent effective 10 date. 11 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13 14 Section 1. Applications for certification as a victim of 15 Florida reform school abuse; public records exemption.—Any 16 personal identifying information in an application submitted to 17 the Department of State by, or on behalf of, a person seeking 18 certification as a victim of Florida reform school abuse, as 19 defined in the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee 20 School Abuse Victim Certification Act, is exempt from s. 21 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the 22 State Constitution. This paragraph is subject to the Open 23 Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15, 24 Florida Statutes, and shall stand repealed on December 31, 2023, 25 unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the 26 Legislature. 27 Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 28 necessity that personal identifying information in applications 29 for certification as a victim of Florida reform school abuse 30 which are submitted to the Department of State be made exempt 31 from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of 32 the State Constitution. The Legislature finds that the release 33 of personal identifying information contained in a certification 34 application could subject victims of Florida reform school abuse 35 to further trauma. The Legislature further finds that such 36 victims would be more likely to come forward to seek redress if 37 personal identifying information in the applications were 38 protected from public disclosure. The Legislature finds that the 39 harm that may result from the release of such information 40 outweighs the public benefit that may be derived from the 41 disclosure of the information. 42 Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date that 43 SB 482 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation 44 is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension 45 thereof and becomes a law.