Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida Senate Bill S1402 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 03/27/2023

                    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 Criminal Justice  
 
BILL: SB 1402 
INTRODUCER:  Senator Martin 
SUBJECT:  Public Records/Investigative Genetic Genealogy Materials 
DATE: March 24, 2023 
 
 ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR  REFERENCE  	ACTION 
1. Cellon Stokes CJ Favorable 
2.     GO  
3.     RC  
 
I. Summary: 
SB 1402 amends s. 119.071, F.S., to make investigative genetic genealogy materials, including a 
single nucleotide polymorphism or a whole genome sequencing profile, confidential and exempt 
from public records requirements. 
 
The exemption must be given retroactive application and must apply to all investigative genetic 
genealogy materials, including a single nucleotide polymorphism or whole genome sequencing 
profile, or a portion thereof, held in the possession of an agency before, on, or after July 1, 2023, 
the effective date of the bill. 
 
Investigative genetic genealogy materials and other technical terms are defined in the bill. 
 
The bill provides Legislative findings that are the basis of the public necessity for investigative 
genetic genealogy materials to be made confidential and exempt from public records 
requirements and that such exemption be applied retroactively. 
 
The exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with 
s. 119.15, F.S., and will stand repealed on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from 
repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 
 
The bill provides a statement of public necessity as required by the State Constitution. 
 
The bill creates a new public records exemption and, therefore, requires a two-thirds vote of the 
members present and voting for final passage. 
 
The bill becomes effective July 1, 2023. 
REVISED:   BILL: SB 1402   	Page 2 
 
II. Present Situation: 
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.
1
 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.
2
 
 
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.
3
 Florida Rule of 
Judicial Administration 2.420 governs public access to judicial branch records.
4
 Lastly, ch. 119, 
F.S., known as the Public Records Act, provides requirements for public records held by 
executive agencies. 
 
Executive Agency Records – The Public Records Act 
The Public Records Act provides that all state, county and municipal records are open for 
personal inspection and copying by any person, and that providing access to public records is a 
duty of each agency.
5
 Section 119.011(12), F.S., defines “public records” to include: 
 
All documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound 
recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical 
form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law 
or ordinance or in connections with the transaction of official business by any 
agency. 
 
The Florida Supreme Court has interpreted this definition to encompass all materials made or 
received by an agency in connection with official business that are used to “perpetuate, 
communicate, or formalize knowledge of some type.”
6
 
 
The Florida Statutes specify conditions under which public access to public records must be 
provided. The Public Records Act guarantees every person’s right to inspect and copy any public 
record at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the 
 
1
 FLA. CONST. art. I, s. 24(a). 
2
 Id. 
3
 See Rule 1.48, Rules and Manual of the Florida Senate, (2022-2024) and Rule 14.1, Rules of the Florida House of 
Representatives, Edition 2, (2018-2020). 
4
 State v. Wooten, 260 So. 3d 1060 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018). 
5
 Section 119.01(1), F.S. Section 119.011(2), F.S., defines “agency” as “any state, county, district, authority, or municipal 
officer, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other separate unit of government created or established by law 
including, for the purposes of this chapter, the Commission on Ethics, the Public Service Commission, and the Office of 
Public Counsel, and any other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf 
of any public agency.” 
6
 Shevin v. Byron, Harless, Schaffer, Reid and Assoc., Inc., 379 So. 2d 633, 640 (Fla. 1980).  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 3 
 
custodian of the public record.
7
 A violation of the Public Records Act may result in civil or 
criminal liability.
8
 
 
The Legislature may exempt public records from public access requirements by passing a 
general law by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate.
9
 The exemption must state 
with specificity the public necessity justifying the exemption and must be no broader than 
necessary to accomplish the stated purpose of the exemption.
10
 
 
General exemptions from the public records requirements are contained in the Public Records 
Act.
11
 Specific exemptions often are placed in the substantive statutes relating to a particular 
agency or program.
12
 
 
When creating a public records exemption, the Legislature may provide that a record is “exempt” 
or “confidential and exempt.” There is a difference between records the Legislature has 
determined to be exempt from the Public Records Act and those which the Legislature has 
determined to be exempt from the Public Records Act and confidential.
13
 Records designated as 
“confidential and exempt” are not subject to inspection by the public and may only be released 
under the circumstances defined by statute.
14
 Records designated as “exempt” may be released at 
the discretion of the records custodian under certain circumstances.
15
 
 
Open Government Sunset Review Act 
The provisions of s. 119.15, F.S., known as the Open Government Sunset Review Act
16
 (the 
Act), prescribe a legislative review process for newly created or substantially amended
17
 public 
records or open meetings exemptions, with specified exceptions.
18
 The Act requires the repeal of 
such exemption on October 2nd of the fifth year after creation or substantial amendment, unless 
the Legislature reenacts the exemption.
19
 
 
 
7
 Section 119.07(1)(a), F.S. 
8
 Section 119.10, F.S. Public records laws are found throughout the Florida Statutes, as are the penalties for violating those 
laws. 
9
 FLA. CONST. art. I, s. 24(c). 
10
 Id. See, e.g., Halifax Hosp. Medical Center v. News-Journal Corp., 724 So. 2d 567 (Fla. 1999) (holding that a public 
meetings exemption was unconstitutional because the statement of public necessity did not define important terms and did 
not justify the breadth of the exemption); Baker County Press, Inc. v. Baker County Medical Services, Inc., 870 So. 2d 189 
(Fla. 1st DCA 2004) (holding that a statutory provision written to bring another party within an existing public records 
exemption is unconstitutional without a public necessity statement). 
11
 See, e.g., s. 119.071(1)(a), F.S. (exempting from public disclosure examination questions and answer sheets of 
examinations administered by a governmental agency for the purpose of licensure). 
12
 See, e.g., s. 213.053(2)(a), F.S. (exempting from public disclosure information contained in tax returns received by the 
Department of Revenue). 
13
 WFTV, Inc. v. The Sch. Bd. of Seminole County, 874 So. 2d 48, 53 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004). 
14
 Id. 
15
 Williams v. City of Minneola, 575 So. 2d 683 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991). 
16
 Section 119.15, F.S. 
17
 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. 
18
 Section 119.15(2)(a) and (b), F.S., provides that exemptions required by federal law or applicable solely to the Legislature 
or the State Court System are not subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act. 
19
 Section 119.15(3), F.S.  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 4 
 
The Act provides that a public records or open meetings exemption may be created or 
maintained only if it serves an identifiable public purpose and is no broader than is necessary.
20
 
An exemption serves an identifiable purpose if it meets one of the following purposes and the 
Legislature finds that the purpose of the exemption outweighs open government policy and 
cannot be accomplished without the exemption: 
• It allows the state or its political subdivisions to effectively and efficiently administer a 
governmental program, and administration would be significantly impaired without the 
exemption;
21
 
• It protects sensitive, personal information, the release of which would be defamatory, cause 
unwarranted damage to the good name or reputation of the individual, or would jeopardize 
the individual’s safety. If this public purpose is cited as the basis of an exemption, however, 
only personal identifying information is exempt;
22
 or 
• It protects information of a confidential nature concerning entities, such as trade or business 
secrets.
23
 
 
The Act also requires specified questions to be considered during the review process.
24
 In 
examining an exemption, the Act directs the Legislature to question the purpose and necessity of 
reenacting the exemption. 
 
If the exemption is continued and expanded, then a public necessity statement and a two-thirds 
vote for passage are required.
25
 If the exemption is continued without substantive changes or if 
the exemption is continued and narrowed, then a public necessity statement and a two-thirds vote 
for passage are not required. If the Legislature allows an exemption to expire, the previously 
exempt records will remain exempt unless otherwise provided by law.
26
 
 
Agency Investigations 
Section 119.071(2), F.S., contains general exemptions from the public records law for agency 
investigations. For purposes of ch. 119, F.S., the definition of “agency” is any state, county, 
district, authority, or municipal officer, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or 
other separate unit of government created or established by law including, for the purposes of 
this chapter, the Commission on Ethics, the Public Service Commission, and the Office of Public 
Counsel, and any other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business 
 
20
 Section 119.15(6)(b), F.S. 
21
 Section 119.15(6)(b)1., F.S. 
22
 Section 119.15(6)(b)2., F.S. 
23
 Section 119.15(6)(b)3., F.S. 
24
 Section 119.15(6)(a), F.S. The specified questions are: 
• What specific records or meetings are affected by the exemption? 
• Whom does the exemption uniquely affect, as opposed to the general public? 
• What is the identifiable public purpose or goal of the exemption? 
• Can the information contained in the records or discussed in the meeting be readily obtained by alternative means? 
If so, how? 
• Is the record or meeting protected by another exemption? 
• Are there multiple exemptions for the same type of record or meeting that it would be appropriate to merge? 
25
 See generally s. 119.15, F.S. 
26
 Section 119.15(7), F.S.  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 5 
 
entity acting on behalf of any public agency.
27
 Active criminal intelligence information and 
active criminal investigative information are exempt from s. 119.07(1), F.S., and s. 24(a), Art. I 
of the State Constitution.
28
 
 
“Criminal intelligence information” means information with respect to an identifiable person or 
group of persons collected by a criminal justice agency in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or 
monitor possible criminal activity.
29
 “Criminal investigative information” means information 
with respect to an identifiable person or group of persons compiled by a criminal justice agency 
in the course of conducting a criminal investigation of a specific act or omission, including, but 
not limited to, information derived from laboratory tests, reports of investigators or informants, 
or any type of surveillance.
30
 
 
In this context, the word “active” means: 
• Criminal intelligence information shall be considered “active” as long as it is related to 
intelligence gathering conducted with a reasonable, good faith belief that it will lead to 
detection of ongoing or reasonably anticipated criminal activities. 
• Criminal investigative information shall be considered “active” as long as it is related to an 
ongoing investigation which is continuing with a reasonable, good faith anticipation of 
securing an arrest or prosecution in the foreseeable future. 
 
In addition, criminal intelligence and criminal investigative information shall be considered 
“active” while such information is directly related to pending prosecutions or appeals. The word 
“active” shall not apply to information in cases which are barred from prosecution under the 
provisions of statutes of limitation.
31
 
 
Genetics 
Genetics is the scientific study of genes and heredity, of how certain qualities or traits are passed 
from parents to offspring as a result of changes in DNA sequence.
32
 A gene is a segment of DNA 
that contains instructions for building one or more molecules that help the body work. DNA is 
shaped like a corkscrew-twisted ladder, called a double helix. The two ladder rails are called 
backbones, and the rungs are pairs of four building blocks (adenine, thymine, guanine, and 
cytosine) called bases. The sequences of these bases provide the instructions for building 
molecules, most of which are proteins. Researchers estimate that humans have about 20,000 
genes. All of an organism’s genetic material, including its genes and other elements that control 
the activity of those genes, is its genome. An organism’s entire genome is found in nearly all of 
its cells.
33
 
 
 
27
 Section 119.011(2), F.S. 
28
 Section 119.071(2)(c)1. F.S. 
29
 Section 119.011(3)(a), F.S. 
30
 Section 119.011(3)(b), F.S. 
31
 Sections 119.011(3)(d) and 775.15, F.S. 
32
 National Institute of Health, General Medicine Sciences, Genetics, What is Genetics?, available at 
https://nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-
sheets/Pages/genetics.aspx#:~:text=Genetics%20is%20the%20scientific%20study,that%20help%20the%20body%20work, 
(last visited March 18, 2023). 
33
 Id.  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 6 
 
Our DNA, including all of our genes, is stored in chromosomes, structures where proteins wind 
up DNA tightly so that it fits in the nucleus. Humans typically have 23 pairs of chromosomes in 
our cells. The two chromosomes in each pair contain the same genes, but they may have different 
versions of those genes because we inherit one chromosome in each pair from our mother and 
the other from our father.
34
 
 
Genetic variations can influence how people respond to certain medicines or a person’s 
likelihood of developing a disease. Because parents pass their genes on to their children, some 
diseases tend to cluster in families, similar to other inherited traits. In most cases, multiple genes 
are involved. Researchers can use DNA sequencing to identify variations in a person’s genome.
35
 
 
Genealogy Research by the Public 
Advances in DNA testing have allowed people to uncover information about their genetic 
ancestry and find out where some of their ancestors came from. A person swipes the inside of his 
or her cheek for a saliva sample, which is sent to a lab. There, the DNA is extracted, amplified, 
and analyzed. It is then compared to and matched with DNA samples from a reference database 
of a set of closely linked genes or DNA polymorphisms that have been identified in specific 
populations. If a person’s DNA sequences match certain sequences in the database, the 
information can be used to determine the populations with which that person shares maternal or 
paternal ancestry.
36
 
 
The number of people who have had their DNA analyzed with direct-to-consumer genetic 
genealogy tests more than doubled during 2017 and exceeds 12 million, according to industry 
estimates. Most of those tested are in the U.S., suggesting that around 1 in 25 American adults 
now have access to personal genetic data, a figure that could spur a range of new genetic analysis 
services.
37
 
 
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Materials 
As explained by the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, investigative (or forensic) 
genetic genealogy is the science of using genetic and genealogical methods to generate leads for 
law enforcement entities investigating crimes and identifying human remains. 
 
Genetic genealogists use DNA profiles from a crime scene or from unidentified human remains 
to identify close genetic DNA profiles or matches. By comparing the known genealogy of those 
close familial matches, this constrains the number of possible close relatives of the perpetrator or 
victim. Such efforts enable investigators or researchers to more closely focus their investigation 
in cold or stale criminal cases providing new leads.
38
 
 
34
 Id. 
35
 Id. 
36
 MIT Technology Review, Biotechnology, Leslie Hanlon, “Tracing Your Ancestry,” available at 
https://www.technologyreview.com/2006/02/24/229598/tracing-your-ancestry/, (last visited March 18, 2023). 
37
 MIT Technology Review, Biotechnology, Antonio Regalado, “2017 was the year consumer DNA testing blew up,” 
February 12, 2018, available at https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/02/12/145676/2017-was-the-year-consumer-dna-
testing-blew-up/, (last visited March 18, 2023). 
38
 International Society of Genetic Genealogy, Investigative genetic genealogy FAQs, available at 
https://isogg.org/wiki/Investigative_genetic_genealogy_FAQs#cite_note-1, (last visited March 19, 2023); see also The  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 7 
 
  
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Forensic/Investigative Genetic Genealogy 
Program 
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Genetic Genealogy team provides 
investigative leads to investigators based on DNA matches to relatives found in public genealogy 
databases.
39
 The team includes experts in genetic genealogy, analytical research, forensics and 
investigations who work with local law enforcement agencies.
40
 In its first year, the program 
helped identify four suspects, solving cases that were more than a decade old.
41
 
 
Catching the Golden State Killer Using Consumer DNA Testing Database 
A Florida-based genealogy website called GEDmatch that allows users to voluntarily share their 
genetic profiles for free provided information that led investigators to the “Golden State Killer” 
who had eluded law enforcement since 1976.
42
 The website revealed a distant relative and that 
information helped lead authorities to the man suspected of conducting a reign of terror up and 
down California, including 12 homicides, 45 rapes and more than 100 residential burglaries 
between 1976 and 1986.
43
 The man subsequently pleaded guilty to 13 counts of first-degree 
murder and special circumstances (including murder committed during burglaries and rapes), as 
well as 13 counts of kidnapping.
44
 GEDmatch allows people to upload their DNA analysis to the 
site and opt-in for law enforcement matching. There are more than 140,000 people who have 
opted-in.
45
 
III. Effect of Proposed Changes: 
The bill creates a public records exemption in s. 119.071(2)(r)2., F.S., for investigative genetic 
genealogy materials, including a single nucleotide polymorphism or a whole genome sequencing 
profile. The exemption must be given retroactive application and must apply to all investigative 
 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Forensics Disciplines, Genetic Genealogy, Resource & Historical Information 
FDLE Forensic/Investigative Genetic Genealogy, available at https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Forensics/Disciplines/Genetic-
Genealogy/Resource-Historical-Information.aspx, (last visited March 19, 2023). 
39
 Florida Department of Law Enforcement, News, FDLE Genetic Genealogy Investigations program solves cold cases in 
first year, available at https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/News/2019/October/FDLE-Genetic-Genealogy-Investigations-program-
solv, (last visited March 18, 2023). 
40
 Id. 
41
 Id. 
42
 East Bay Times, “Here’s the ‘open-source’ genealogy DNA website that helped crack the Golden State Killer case,” 
Matthias Gafni, Lisa M. Krieger, September 21, 2018, available at https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/04/26/ancestry-
23andme-deny-assisting-law-enforcement-in-east-area-rapist-case/, (last visited March 18, 2023); see also Los Angeles 
Times, The untold story of how the Golden State Killer was found: A covert operation and private DNA, Paige St. John, 
December 8, 2020, available at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/man-in-the-window, (last visited 
March 19, 2023). 
43
 Id. 
44
 CNN News, “Hearing details ghastly crimes of Golden State Killer as he pleads guilty to killings,” Elliott C. McLaughlin, 
Stella Chan, June 29, 2020, available at https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/us/golden-state-killer-plea-
expected/index.html#:~:text=DeAngelo%20pleaded%20guilty%20to%2013,as%2013%20counts%20of%20kidnapping, (last 
visited March 18, 2023). 
45
 Florida Department of Law Enforcement, News, FDLE Genetic Genealogy Investigations program solves cold cases in 
first year, available at https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/News/2019/October/FDLE-Genetic-Genealogy-Investigations-program-
solv, (last visited March 18, 2023).  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 8 
 
genetic genealogy materials, including a single nucleotide polymorphism or whole genome 
sequencing profile, or a portion thereof, held in the possession of an agency before, on, or after 
July 1, 2023. 
 
As defined in the bill: 
• “Investigative genetic genealogy materials” means the information, records, and genetic 
profiles created or collected by or on behalf of a law enforcement agency conducting 
investigative genetic genealogy research. This includes any names and personal identifying 
information or identifiers of individuals determined through the use of genealogy databases, 
traditional genealogical methods, or other investigative means.
46
 
• The term “investigative genetic genealogical materials” does not include: 
o The identity or personal identifying information of the donor of a biological sample 
attributable to a perpetrator, with the exception of the single nucleotide polymorphism or 
whole genome sequencing DNA profile developed from the crime scene evidence; or 
o Any individual identified through investigative genetic genealogy who is a witness to or 
has personal knowledge related to the crime under investigation, with the exception of the 
individual’s single nucleotide polymorphism or whole genome sequencing DNA profile. 
• “Single nucleotide polymorphism” is a variation in a single unit in a DNA sequence. Profiles 
consisting of single nucleotide polymorphism data from various locations in a genome are 
made up of letters representing the building blocks of DNA (A, T, G, and C). However, 
depending on the locations tested, single nucleotide polymorphism data may also reveal 
information on physical characteristics, disease predisposition, and susceptibility to 
environmental factors such as toxins or drugs. 
• “Whole genome sequencing” means the attempt to determine the genetic code using A, T, G, 
and C for an individual throughout the entire complement of DNA, including all genes. 
Whole genome sequencing data represents the entirety of an individual’s DNA and the traits, 
health, and ancestry information it contains. 
 
Investigative genetic genealogy materials, including a single nucleotide polymorphism or a 
whole genome sequencing profile, are made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), F.S., and 
s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution by the bill. 
 
The bill creates an exception to the public records exemption, and provides that a law 
enforcement agency may disclose investigative genetic genealogy materials: 
• In furtherance of its official duties and responsibilities; or 
• To another governmental agency in the furtherance of its official duties and responsibilities. 
 
Investigative genetic genealogy materials, including a single nucleotide polymorphism or whole 
genome sequencing profile, or a portion thereof must be disclosed pursuant to a court order in 
furtherance of a criminal prosecution. If a court orders that investigative genetic genealogy 
materials be disclosed, the recipient of the records or information must maintain the 
confidentiality of those records or information and may only disclose them publicly as needed 
for purposes of a criminal prosecution, as determined by the court. 
 
46
 “Traditional genealogical methods” means the use of genealogical databases and historical records to trace the family 
lineage of an individual. “Genealogy databases” are used to detect possible genetic relationships with distant relatives. 
  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 9 
 
 
The bill provides a statement of public necessity for the public records exemption created by the 
bill and for its retroactive application. The bill states that: 
• Investigative genetic genealogy is an advanced investigative tool that uses law enforcement 
agency investigative resources and traditional genealogical research in collaboration with 
crime laboratories, private vendor laboratories, and companies or organizations that provide 
genealogy services and information to the public. 
• Investigative genetic genealogy allows law enforcement agencies to generate an investigative 
lead on an unknown perpetrator. The investigative lead aids law enforcement agencies in 
determining potential donors of crime scene samples, which can be confirmed or refuted by a 
crime laboratory for use in legal proceedings. 
• Convictions and exonerations have been aided by the use of investigative genetic genealogy. 
• The same techniques are also used in missing persons and unidentified human remains cases. 
• Investigative genetic genealogy is a valuable tool to solve violent crimes and to hold 
accountable perpetrators who may otherwise roam freely and undetected in society.  
• Traditional forensic DNA testing attempts to identify the possible donor of a crime scene 
sample through matches in law enforcement agencies’ DNA databases that consist of short 
tandem repeat DNA databases. 
• The use of investigative genetic genealogy differs from traditional law enforcement agency 
investigative techniques because it uses advanced DNA testing to develop a single nucleotide 
polymorphism or a whole genome sequencing profile from the unknown crime scene DNA, 
which is then uploaded into a public genealogy database and used to locate personal 
identifying information for possible relatives and ancestors who participate in the databases. 
• Individuals whose names, contact information, or other family associations are available in 
these databases may, and routinely, have no association with or knowledge of the perpetrator 
or the crime that a law enforcement agency is investigating. 
• The first publicized use of investigative genetic genealogy involved the Golden State Killer 
cases in California. The publicity surrounding law enforcement agencies’ use of genetic 
genealogy led individuals, genealogy service providers, genealogical testing companies, and 
privacy advocates and ethicists to express privacy concerns. 
• Private companies have since strictly limited or precluded law enforcement agency access to 
genetic genealogy databases due to fear that individuals who are biologically related to a 
perpetrator but unassociated with the crime may be identified, harassed, and even victimized. 
• Law enforcement agency use of investigative genetic genealogy materials has been restricted 
to violent crimes and unidentified human remains, and companies employ opt-in features for 
customers. 
• Failure to properly protect and limit the disclosure of investigative genetic genealogy 
materials will hinder law enforcement agencies’ ability to use this valuable method to solve 
violent crimes and provide closure to the family members of victims of these heinous acts. 
• Often, unidentified human remains are homicide victims, so protection of investigative 
genetic genealogy tools and information is equally important in giving names to these 
decedents as well as to their perpetrators. 
 
For the foregoing reasons, the Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that investigative 
genetic genealogy materials be made confidential and exempt from public records requirements 
and that such exemption be applied retroactively.  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 10 
 
 
The public records exemption created by the bill is subject to the Open Government Sunset 
Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15, F.S., and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2028, 
unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 
 
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023. 
IV. Constitutional Issues: 
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions: 
None. 
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues: 
Vote Requirement 
Article I, s. 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 investigative genetic 
genealogy materials, thus, the bill requires a two-thirds vote to be enacted. 
 
Public Necessity Statement 
Article I, s. 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, s. 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 investigative genetic genealogy materials. This bill 
exempts only investigative genetic genealogy materials from the public records 
requirements. 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. 
E. Other Constitutional Issues: 
None identified.  BILL: SB 1402   	Page 11 
 
V. Fiscal Impact Statement: 
A. Tax/Fee Issues: 
None. 
B. Private Sector Impact: 
None. 
C. Government Sector Impact: 
None. 
VI. Technical Deficiencies: 
None. 
VII. Related Issues: 
None. 
VIII. Statutes Affected: 
This bill substantially amends section 119.071 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.