HB 631 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0631-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to public records; providing an 2
exemption from public records requirements for 3
personal identifying information in applications 4
submitted to the Department of State by persons 5
seeking certification as victims of Florida reform 6
school abuse; providing for future legislative review 7
and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of 8
public necessity; providing a contingent effectiv e 9
date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. Applications for certification as a victim of 14
Florida reform school abuse; public records exemption. —Any 15
personal identifying information in an application submitted to 16
the Department of State by, or on behalf of, a person seeking 17
certification as a victim of Florida reform school abuse, as 18
defined in the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee 19
School Abuse Victim Certification Act, is exempt from s. 20
119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the 21
State Constitution. This paragraph is subject to the Open 22
Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15, 23
Florida Statutes, and shall stand repealed on December 31, 2024, 24
unless reviewed and saved f rom repeal through reenactment by the 25
HB 631 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0631-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Legislature. 26
Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 27
necessity that personal identifying information in applications 28
for certification as a victim of Florida reform school abuse 29
which are submitted to the Department of State be made exempt 30
from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of 31
the State Constitution. The Legislature finds that the release 32
of personal identifying information contained in a certification 33
application could subject victims of Florida reform school abuse 34
to further trauma. The Legislature further finds that such 35
victims would be more likely to come forward and seek redress if 36
personal identifying information in the applications were 37
protected from public disclosure. The Legislature finds that the 38
harm that may result from the release of such information 39
outweighs the public benefit that may be derived from the 40
disclosure of the information. 41
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date 42
that HB 629 or similar legislation takes effect , if such 43
legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an 44
extension thereof and becomes a law. 45