| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to public records; amending s. 823.15, 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | F.S.; providing an exemption from public records 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | requirements for records containing certain 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | information pertaining to persons with legal custody 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | of an animal from an animal shelter or animal control 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | agency operated by a humane society or a local 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | government; providing for future legislative review 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | public necessity; providing an effective date. 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 823.15, 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | 823.15 Public or private animal agencies; sterilization 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | required for dogs and cats released; recordkeeping requirements; 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | microchipping; public records exemption .— 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | (7) Personal identifying information of a person who 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | fosters, adopts, or otherwise receives legal custody of an 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | animal from an animal shelter or animal contr ol agency operated 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | by a humane society or a county, municipality, or other 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | incorporated political subdivision held by the shelter or agency 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | is exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Constitution. This subsection is subject to the Open G overnment 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 3 |
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| 47 | 47 | | 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 |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | repealed on October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved from 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | necessity that the personal identifying information of a person 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | who fosters, adopts, or otherwise receives legal custody of an 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | animal from an animal shelter or animal control agency operated 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | by a humane society or a county, municipality, or other 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | incorporated political subdi vision held by the shelter or agency 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | be made exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. The Legislature finds 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | that, as reflected in s. 823.15(1), Florida Statutes, it is an 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | important public policy of the sta te to encourage the fostering, 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | adoption, or receipt of animals and to reduce euthanasia rates 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | for animals in animal shelters and animal control agencies. 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | Although such shelters and agencies are motivated to find new 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | homes or placements for animals in their custody, potential 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | fosterers, adopters, and other persons considering receiving 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | legal custody of animals may become discouraged from fostering, 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | adopting, or receiving legal custody of the animals if the prior 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | owners who lost or surrendered legal custody o f the animals, or 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | who did not reclaim the animals within the applicable time 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | periods, can obtain their personal identifying information and 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | attempt to regain legal custody of the animals from such persons 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | through stalking, harassment, or intimidation. As s uch, the 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 3 |
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| 84 | 84 | | 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 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | release of such personal identifying information may jeopardize 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | the safety of animal fosterers, adopters, and other persons 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | receiving legal custody of animals and may have a chilling 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | effect on the recruitment of persons to adopt, foster, or 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | otherwise receive legal custody of animals from an animal 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | shelter or animal control agency. 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 57 |
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