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The Florida Senate

CS/CS/HB 551 — Public Records/Health Care Facilities

by Health Innovation Subcommittee; Oversight, Transparency, and Administration Subcommittee; and Rep. Burton and others (CS/SB 906 by Health Policy Committee and Senator Young)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)

This bill expands the public record exemption for building plans, blue prints, schematic drawings, and diagrams for certain facilities to include health care facilities and provides that the public record exemption applies to building plans and the related documents held by an agency before, on, or after the effective date of this bill.

For purposes of the public record exemption, the term “health care facility” means a hospital, ambulatory surgical center, nursing home, hospice, or intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled.

The bill provides that the public record exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will stand repealed on October 2, 2023, unless saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

This bill provides a public necessity statement to justify the exemption as required by the Florida Constitution, which states the building plans could be used by criminals or terrorists to examine the physical plant for vulnerabilities. In addition, information contained in the documents could aid in the planning, training, and execution of criminal actions including infant abduction, cyber-crime, arson, and terrorism.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.

Vote: Senate 36-0; House 110-0