STORAGE NAME: h1329.HSS
DATE: 3/31/2025
1
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: HB 1329
TITLE: Pub. Rec./Hope Florida Participants
SPONSOR(S): Gerwig
COMPANION BILL: None
LINKED BILLS: HB 1327 Gerwig
RELATED BILLS: SB 1146 (Burgess)
Committee References
Human Services
Government Operations
Health & Human Services
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
HB 1329 creates a public records exemption for the personal identifying information of individuals seeking
assistance from the Hope Florida initiative provided to the Hope Florida Office or a Hope Navigator.
The exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will stand repealed on October 2, 2030,
unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
None
Extraordinary Vote Required for Passage:
The bill requires a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting in both houses of the Legislature for final
passage.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
Hope Florida Public Records Exemption
Hope Florida is an initiative intended to assist individuals in reducing or eliminating their reliance on government
programs to become self-sufficient. Participants provide their identifying information to the Hope Florida Office
and Hope Navigators to obtain assistance.
The bill creates a public records exemption for personal identifying information of participants in the Hope Florida
initiative. (Section 1)
The bill allows access to confidential and exempt information within the Hope Florida case management system as
follows:
To an employee of a participating state agency for purposes of periodic reporting or disclosure of
information that has been redacted to exclude personal.
At the direction of the Governor or the Hope Florida partner network.
To an employee of the Hope Florida Office for purposes of approving or disapproving a request for
additional assistance within the purview of Hope Florida. (Section 1) JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
2
The bill specifies that all information released remains confidential and exempt and that the person who receives
the information must maintain such status. Any person who willfully and knowingly violates these provisions
commits a felony of the third degree. (Section 1)
The bill does not provide a public necessity statement for the public records exemption, as required by the State
Constitution.
1
The bill specifies that the public records exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will
stand repealed on October 2, 2030, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.
2 (Section 1)
The bill becomes effective on the same date HB 1327 or similar legislation becomes law. (Section 2)
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Hope Florida
Hope Florida, an initiative launched by First Lady Casey DeSantis in September 2021, is intended to assist
individuals in reducing or eliminating their reliance on government programs to become self-sufficient.
3
This is accomplished by financial and employment assistance provided by the private sector, faith-based
community and nonprofit organizations, as well as individuals willing to donate funds or their time by
volunteering.
4
The initiative is operated by the Department of Children and Families.
5
Open Government
The Florida Constitution sets forth the state’s public policy regarding access to government records and meetings.
Every person is guaranteed a right to inspect or copy any public records or the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of government.
6 All meetings of any collegial public body of the executive branch of state government or
any collegial public body of a county, municipality, school district, or special district, at which official acts are to be
taken or at which public business of such body is to be transacted or discussed, must be open and noticed to the
public.
7 The Legislature, however, may provide by general law an exemption
8 from public record or meeting
requirements provided that the exemption passes by a two-thirds vote of each chamber, states with specificity the
public necessity justifying the exemption, and is no broader than necessary to meet its public purpose.
Public Records
Current law also addresses the public policy regarding access to government records, guaranteeing every person a
right to inspect and copy any state, county, or municipal record, unless the record is exempt.
9 Furthermore, the
Open Government Sunset Review Act provides that a public records exemption may be created, revised, or
maintained only if it serves an identifiable public purpose and the “Legislature finds that the purpose is sufficiently
1
See Art. I, s. 24(c), Fla. Const.
2
S. 119.15, F.S.
3
Hope Florida, Timeline, https://hopeflorida.com/about-us/timeline.html (last visited Mar. 28, 2025).
4
First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces Major New Initiative, https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2021/first-lady-casey-
desantis-announces-major-new-initiative (last visited Mar. 28, 2025).
5
Department of Children and Families, Agency Bill Analysis for HB 1327 (2025), pp. 2 (Mar. 14, 2025).
6
Art. I, s. 24(a), Fla. Const.
7
Art. I, s. 24(b), Fla. Const.
8
A public record exemption means a provision of general law which provides that a specified record or meeting, or portion
thereof, is not subject to the access requirements of s. 119.07(1), F.S., s. 286.011, F.S., or s. 24, Art. I of the Florida Constitution.
See s. 119.011(8), F.S.
9
See s. 119.01, F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
compelling to override the strong public policy of open government and cannot be accomplished without the
exemption.
10 An identifiable public purpose is served if the exemption meets one of the following purposes:
Allows the state or its political subdivisions to effectively and efficiently administer a governmental
program, which administration would be significantly impaired without the exemption;
Protects sensitive personal information that, if released, would be defamatory or would jeopardize an
individual’s safety; however, only the identity of an individual may be exempted under this provision; or
Protects trade or business records.
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Personal Identifying Information of Applicants, Participants and Recipients of State Programs
Current law provides many public records exemptions for the personal identifying information of applicants for,
participants in, or recipients of, state programs. Examples include:
Individuals eligible for health-related services whose information is held by the Department of Health.
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Applicants or enrollees in a Florida Kidcare program whose information is held by the Agency for Health
Care Administration, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, or the Florida
Healthy Kids Corporation.
13
Participants of a temporary cash assistance program, families of participants, or a participant’s family or
household member whose information is held by the Department of Children and Families, CareerSource
Florida, Inc., the Department of Health, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, or a local
workforce development board.
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Applicants or participants of a school food and nutrition service program whose information is held by the
Department of Education.
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Participants of health-related, elder care, or long-term care services whose information is held by the
Department of Elder Affairs.
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Human Services Subcommittee Mitz Mitz
Government Operations
Subcommittee
Health & Human Services
Committee
10
S. 119.15(6)(b), F.S.
11
Id.
12
S. 119.0712, F.S.
13
S. 409.821, F.S.
14
S. 414.295, F.S.
15
S. 595.409, F.S.
16
S. 430.105, F.S.