The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Judiciary
BILL: SB 1304
INTRODUCER: Senator Gruters
SUBJECT: Public Records/Trust Proceedings
DATE: January 28, 2022
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Bond Cibula JU Pre-meeting
2. GO
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1304 creates a public records exemption for certain trust proceedings and other filings held
by a court. The bill provides that, in trust proceedings in which a family trust company, licensed
family trust company, or foreign licensed family trust company is a party, the identities of those
who establish, administer, or benefit from a trust and any information relating to the trust are
confidential and exempt. The court may not release to the public any of the sealed documents or
information contained therein, but must make them available to the settlor, a fiduciary or
beneficiary and their attorney, or any other person if the court determines there is a compelling
need for releasing the information requested.
This exemption is not subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act because it applies
solely to judicial branch records.
Because this bill creates a public records exemption, it will require a two-thirds vote of each
house in order to pass.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.
II. Present Situation:
A trust is a fiduciary relationship with respect to property, subjecting the person by whom the
title to the property is held to equitable duties to deal with the property for the benefit of another
person. A trust arises as a result of a manifestation of an intention to create it.
1
Trusts are
governed by statute.
2
1
55A Fla. Jur 2d Trusts § 1.
2
See generally, ch. 736, F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1304 Page 2
Trust companies are for-profit business organizations that are authorized to engage in trust
business and to act as a fiduciary for the general public. A family may form and operate private
or family trust companies that provide trust services similar to those that can be provided by an
individual trustee or a financial institution. However, these family trust companies are owned
exclusively by family members and may not provide fiduciary services to the public. These
private, family trust companies are generally formed to manage the wealth of high net-worth
families in lieu of traditional individual or institutional trustee arrangements for a variety of
personal, investment, regulatory, and tax reasons. In 2014, Florida statutes were amended to
authorize the formation of family trust companies, licensed family trust companies, and foreign
licensed family trust companies.
3
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation may investigate
applications for licensure or registration, require annual renewals and other regulatory filings
from licensees and registrants, and conduct periodic examinations of family trust companies,
licensed family trust companies, and foreign licensed family trust companies.
The books and records of a family trust company, licensed family trust company, or foreign
licensed family trust company are confidential, with limited exceptions.
4
Willful violation of the
confidentiality is a third degree felony.
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Access to Public Records - Generally
The Florida Constitution provides that the public has the right to inspect or copy records made or
received in connection with official governmental business.
6
The right to inspect or copy applies
to the official business of any public body, officer, or employee of the state, including all three
branches of state government, local governmental entities, and any person acting on behalf of the
government.
7
Additional requirements and exemptions related to public records are found in various statutes
and rules, depending on the branch of government involved. For instance, s. 11.0431, F.S.,
provides public access requirements for legislative records. Relevant exemptions are codified in
s. 11.0431(2)-(3), F.S., and adopted in the rules of each house of the Legislature.
8
Florida Rule of
Judicial Administration 2.420 governs public access to judicial branch records.
9
Lastly,
chapter 119, F.S., known as the Public Records Act, provides requirements for public records
held by executive agencies. Chapter 119, F.S., does not apply to judicial branch records.
10
3
Chapter 2014-97, L.O.F., creating chapter 662, F.S.
4
Section 662.146, F.S.
5
Section 662.146(2)(c), F.S.
6
FLA. CONST. art. I, s. 24(a).
7
Id.
8
See Rule 1.48, Rules and Manual of the Florida Senate, (2020-2022) and Rule 14.1, Rules of the Florida House of
Representatives, Edition 1, (2020-2022).
9
State v. Wooten, 260 So. 3d 1060 (Fla. 4
th
DCA 2018).
10
Times Pub. Co. v. Ake, 660 So.2d 255 (Fla. 1995). BILL: SB 1304 Page 3
Open Government Sunset Review Act
The provisions of s. 119.15, F.S., known as the Open Government Sunset Review Act
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(the
Act), prescribe a legislative review process for newly created or substantially amended
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public
records or open meetings exemptions, with specified exceptions. The Act does not apply to an
exemption that applies solely to the State Court System.
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III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 1304 creates a public records exemption for certain trust proceedings and other filings held
by a court. The bill provides that, in trust proceedings in which a family trust company, licensed
family trust company, or foreign licensed family trust company is a party, the identities of those
who establish, administer, or benefit from a trust and any information relating to the trust are
confidential and exempt from s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and must be protected in
any court proceeding or filing related to the trust. The court must seal any document filed with
the court in the trust proceeding, including, but not limited to, the instrument on which the trust
is based; any petitions, briefs, or inventories; any statement or report filed by a fiduciary; any
court orders; and any other document in the court case file.
The court may not release to the public any of the sealed documents or information contained
therein, but shall make them available to the following individuals:
The settlor.
Any fiduciary for the trust.
Any beneficiary of the trust.
An attorney for the settlor, a fiduciary, or a beneficiary of the trust.
Any other person if, upon a showing of a specific interest in the trust or a transaction relating
to the trust or an asset held or previously held by the trust, the court determines there is a
compelling need for releasing the information requested.
This bill provides a public necessity statement as required by Article I, s. 24(c) of the State
Constitution. The public necessity statement provides that:
The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that trust proceedings
involving family trust companies, licensed family trust companies, or
foreign licensed family trust companies be made confidential and exempt
from s. 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. Public disclosure in trust
proceedings of information relating to the clients, family members,
members, or stockholders of a family trust company, licensed family trust
company, or foreign licensed family trust company would vitiate other
protections granted by law to such companies and their constituents. In
addition, trust proceedings often involve large sums of money or vulnerable
people who could be targeted for exploitation or abuse. Public disclosure of
sensitive family and financial information in trust proceedings can result in
11
Section 119.15, F.S.
12
An exemption is considered to be substantially amended if it is expanded to include more records or information or to
include meetings as well as records. Section 119.15(4)(b), F.S.
13
Section 119.15(2)(b), F.S. BILL: SB 1304 Page 4
specific harm to beneficiaries and other interested parties in such cases.
Therefore, the Legislature finds that the need to protect the identities of
beneficiaries of trusts and the sensitive financial information contained in
such proceedings is sufficiently compelling to override the state’s public
policy of open government and that the protection of such information
cannot be accomplished without this exemption.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
Vote Requirement
Article I, section 24(c) of the State Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the
members present and voting for final passage of a bill creating or expanding an
exemption to the public records requirements. This bill enacts a new exemption for
certain court records related to a family trust company, licensed family trust company, or
foreign licensed family trust company, thus, the bill requires a two-thirds vote to be
enacted.
Public Necessity Statement
Article I, section 24(c) of the State Constitution requires a bill creating or expanding an
exemption to the public records requirements to state with specificity the public necessity
justifying the exemption. Section 2. of the bill contains a statement of public necessity for
the exemption.
Breadth of Exemption
Article I, section 24(c) of the State Constitution requires an exemption to the public
records requirements to be no broader than necessary to accomplish the stated purpose of
the law. The purpose of the law is to protect confidential financial information contained
in certain court files. The exemption does not appear to be broader than necessary to
accomplish the purpose of the law.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None. BILL: SB 1304 Page 5
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
SB 1304 does not appear to have a fiscal impact on state or local governments.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 662.1465 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.