The Florida Senate

415.50175  Confidentiality of records.--

(1)  The department shall make and keep records of all cases brought before it pursuant to this part and shall preserve the records pertaining to a child and family until 7 years after the last entry was made or until the child is 18 years of age, whichever date is first reached, and may then destroy the records.

(2)  Department records required by this part are confidential and are exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 415.51, may be inspected only upon order of the court or as provided for in this section. Confidential records and information provided pursuant to the provisions of this section shall remain confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

(3)  Access to records required by this part, excluding the name of the reporter, which shall be released only as provided in ¹s. 415.51(9), may be provided to the child, the parent, and their attorney, law enforcement agencies, and, with the consent of the parent, the agency or individual providing services to the child or family.

(4)  The department shall provide for access to and use of records required by this part for research or statistical purposes. All requests for such records or information shall require the requesting individual or entity to enter into a privacy and security agreement which provides that the requesting individual or entity shall comply with all laws and rules governing the use of such records and information for research and statistical purposes.

History.--s. 3, ch. 93-25; s. 8, ch. 95-407; s. 269, ch. 96-406.

¹Note.--Redesignated as s. 415.51(4) by s. 46, ch. 95-228.