Bill Text: FL S0978 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Public Records/Applications for Certification as a Victim of Florida Reform School Abuse

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2022-03-14 - Died in Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development [S0978 Detail]

Download: Florida-2022-S0978-Introduced.html

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       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   24  Florida Statutes, and shall stand repealed on December 31, 2023,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.