Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0769 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 769 2025
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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10	10	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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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to public records; amending s. 2
16	16	474.2185, F.S.; providing an exemption from public 3
17	17	records requirements for records relating to licensed 4
18	18	veterinary technicians until specified criteria are 5
19	19	met; providing a statement of public necessity; 6
20	20	providing a contingent effective date. 7
21	21	8
22	22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
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24	24	Section 1. Section 474.2185, Florida Statutes, is amended 11
25	25	to read: 12
26	26	474.2185 Consent Veterinarians consent ; handwriting 13
27	27	samples; mental or physical examinations. —A veterinarian or 14
28	28	veterinary technician who accepts a license to practice 15
29	29	veterinary medicine or veterinary technology, as applicable, in 16
30	30	this state shall, by so accepting the license or by making and 17
31	31	filing a renewal of licensure to practice in this state, be 18
32	32	deemed to have given her or his consent, during a lawful 19
33	33	investigation of a complaint or of an application for licensure 20
34	34	and when the information has been deemed necessary and relevant 21
35	35	to the investigation as determined by the secretary of the 22
36	36	department, to the following: 23
37	37	(1) To render a handwriting sample to an agent of the 24
38	38	department and, further, to have waived any objections to its 25
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40	40	HB 769 2025
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44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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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49	49
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51	51	use as evidence against her or him. 26
52	52	(2) To waive the confidentiality and authorize the 27
53	53	preparation and release of medical reports pertaining to the 28
54	54	mental or physical condition of the licensee when the department 29
55	55	has reason to believe that a violation of this chapter has 30
56	56	occurred and when the department issues an order, based on the 31
57	57	need for additional information, to produce such medical reports 32
58	58	for the time period relevant to the complaint. As used in this 33
59	59	section, "medical reports" means a compilation o f medical 34
60	60	treatment of the licensee which shall include symptoms, 35
61	61	diagnosis, treatment prescribed, relevant history, and progress. 36
62	62	(3) To waive any objection to the admissibility of the 37
63	63	reports as constituting privileged communications. Such material 38
64	64	maintained by the department is confidential and exempt from s. 39
65	65	119.07(1) until probable cause is found and an administrative 40
66	66	complaint is issued. 41
67	67	Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 42
68	68	necessity that that medical reports pertaining to the m ental or 43
69	69	physical condition of a licensed veterinary technician obtained 44
70	70	by the department as part of the complaint and investigation 45
71	71	process be made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), 46
72	72	Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State 47
73	73	Constitution. The Legislature finds that the rights of a 48
74	74	licensed veterinary technician afforded under other state or 49
75	75	federal laws that deem certain personal information 50
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81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb769-00
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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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88	88	confidential, such as protected health information covered by 51
89	89	the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, should 52
90	90	be upheld and that the licensed veterinary technician's exempt 53
91	91	or confidential information should not be disclosed to the 54
92	92	public until probable cause is found and an administrative 55
93	93	complaint is issued. The licensed veterinar y technician's exempt 56
94	94	or confidential information, if publicly available, could be 57
95	95	used to invade his or her personal privacy. Making such 58
96	96	information confidential and exempt from disclosure will protect 59
97	97	information of a sensitive personal nature, the rele ase of which 60
98	98	could cause unwarranted damage to the privacy rights of the 61
99	99	licensed veterinary technician. The Legislature therefore finds 62
100	100	that it is a public necessity that such information be made 63
101	101	confidential and exempt until probable cause is found and a n 64
102	102	administrative complaint is issued. 65
103	103	Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date 66
104	104	that HB 767 or similar legislation takes effect , if such 67
105	105	legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an 68
106	106	extension thereof and becomes a law. 69