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2005 Florida Legislative Summary
Below are summaries of the 13 new exemptions to public records and open meetings laws passed by Florida lawmakers during the 2005 legislative session. For more information on an exemption, click on the bill number.
HB
185 – Child Abuse Records
Exempts portions of records held by child abuse death review committees
that contain information identifying a deceased child’s surviving
siblings, family members or others living in the home of the deceased.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
449 – H. Lee Mofitt Cancer Center
Expands current exemption for confidential business information
to include potential trade secrets, manufacturing methods and
patentable material discovered during the Center’s research.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
627 – Florida Consumer Finance Act
Information pertaining to an active investigation by the Office
of Financial Regulation of the Financial Services Commission
is exempt from public records requirements.
Passed Senate and House unanimously; Vetoed by the governor
HB
729 – Florida Self-Insurers Guaranty Association
Creates a public records exemption for claims files of the Florida
Self-Insurers Guaranty Association, stipulating that the records
become public at the end of all litigation and settlement claims
arising out of the same incident.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
SB
798 – Parental Notification
Exempts information in court records that would identify a minor
seeking a waiver of parental notification for an abortion.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
1091 – Independent Education Commission
Creates a public records exemption for investigative records held
by the Independent Education Commission.
Passed Senate unanimously; Passed House 111-2 (Click here to see who voted against the exemption)
SB
1098 – Guardians ad Litem
Makes confidential information held by guardians ad litem in relation
to the best interests of a child. Also exempts from public records
the home address, telephone number, place of employment and photographs
of current and former guardians ad litem.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
1469 – Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services
Board
Creates several open government exemptions for the Funeral, Cemetery
and Consumer Services Board. Meetings held to discuss licensure
exams or probable cause are exempt from the Sunshine Law. Information
relating to financial investigations, inspections and violations
are exempt from public records laws until the investigation is
complete or until 10 days after the board has made a decision
regarding probable cause.
Passed Senate unanimously; Passed House 79-39 (Click here to see who voted against the exemption)
HB
1591 – Voter Registration Information
Creates a public record exemption for the Social Security number,
driver’s license number and Florida ID number of a voter
registration applicant or voter. Prohibits copying registration
applications.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
1695 – Voluntary Pre-K Education Program
Makes the individual records of children enrolled in the state’s
Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Education Program exempt from public
records laws.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
HB
1801 – Domestic Security Oversight Council
Creates an exemption for portions of meetings of the Domestic Security
Oversight Council at which criminal investigation or intelligence
information is discussed. The entire session must be recorded.
Records of the meetings are confidential until the investigation
is over or the security plan is no longer in use.
Passed Senate and House unanimously
SB
1922 – Municipal Ethics Commission
Creates a public record exemption for complaints and records relating
to the complaint and any preliminary investigation held by a
municipal ethics commission. Records and proceedings become public
once the complaint is disposed of.
Passed Senate unanimously; Passed House 111-1 (Click here to see who voted against the exemption)
HB
1939 – Hurricane Loss and Exposure Data
Creates public record exemption for “reports of hurricane
loss data and associated exposure data” specific to a particular
insurance company reported to the Office of Insurance Regulation
or a state university for the purpose of developing a hurricane
loss projection model.
Passed Senate unanimously; Passed House 83-30 (Click here to
see who voted against the exemption)
