Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 6-A
       
       
        
       By Senator Hutson
       
       
       
       
       
       7-00004-21A                                             20216A__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records and public meetings;
    3         creating s. 16.716, F.S.; specifying that any exempt
    4         or confidential and exempt information obtained by the
    5         Florida Gaming Control Commission retains its exempt
    6         or confidential and exempt status; providing an
    7         exemption from public meetings requirements for
    8         portions of meetings of the commission wherein exempt
    9         or confidential and exempt information is discussed,
   10         provided certain requirements are met; providing an
   11         exemption from public records requirements for
   12         recordings, minutes, and records generated during such
   13         exempt portions of meetings; providing for the future
   14         review and repeal of the exemption; providing a
   15         statement of public necessity; providing a contingent
   16         effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Section 16.716, Florida Statutes, is created to
   21  read:
   22         16.716 Florida Gaming Control Commission public records and
   23  public meetings exemptions.—
   24         (1)(a) Any information obtained by the Florida Gaming
   25  Control Commission which is exempt or confidential and exempt
   26  from s. 119.07(1) or s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution
   27  shall retain its exempt or confidential and exempt status. The
   28  information may be released by the commission, upon written
   29  request, to an agency, as defined in s. 119.011, or a
   30  governmental entity in the performance of the commission’s
   31  official duties and responsibilities. An agency or a
   32  governmental entity receiving such information from the
   33  commission shall maintain the exempt or confidential and exempt
   34  status of the information.
   35         (b)1.Any portion of a meeting of the commission during
   36  which information that is exempt or confidential and exempt is
   37  discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the
   38  State Constitution.
   39         a. The chair of the commission shall advise the commission
   40  at a public meeting that, in connection with the performance of
   41  a commission duty, it is necessary that the commission hear or
   42  discuss information that is exempt or confidential and exempt.
   43         b. The chair’s declaration of necessity for closure and the
   44  specific reasons for such necessity shall be stated in writing
   45  in a record that shall be a public record and shall be filed
   46  with the official records of the commission.
   47         c. The entire closed session shall be recorded. The
   48  recording shall include the times of commencement and
   49  termination of the closed session, all discussion and
   50  proceedings, and the names of all persons present. No portion of
   51  the session may be off the record. Such recording shall be
   52  maintained by the commission.
   53         2. Only members of the commission, Department of Legal
   54  Affairs staff, or commission staff supporting the commission’s
   55  function and other persons whose presence is necessary for the
   56  presentation of exempt or confidential and exempt information
   57  shall be allowed to attend the exempted portions of the
   58  commission meetings. The commission shall ensure that any
   59  closure of its meetings as authorized by this paragraph is
   60  limited so that the general policy of this state in favor of
   61  public meetings is maintained.
   62         3. A recording of, and any minutes and records generated
   63  during, that portion of a commission meeting which is closed to
   64  the public pursuant to this paragraph are confidential and
   65  exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
   66  Constitution until such time as the information is no longer
   67  exempt or confidential and exempt.
   68         (2) This section is subject to the Open Government Sunset
   69  Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and is repealed on
   70  October 2, 2026, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through
   71  reenactment by the Legislature.
   72         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   73  necessity that any information obtained by the Florida Gaming
   74  Control Commission which is exempt or confidential and exempt
   75  from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of
   76  the State Constitution, maintains its status as exempt or
   77  confidential and exempt. In the absence of this public records
   78  exemption, sensitive confidential or exempt information,
   79  including criminal intelligence information and criminal
   80  investigative information, would be disclosed, thus eliminating
   81  the protected status of the information obtained by the
   82  commission. If the commission is unable to maintain the exempt
   83  or confidential and exempt status of the information received,
   84  the commission would be unable to effectively and efficiently
   85  perform its duties and responsibilities. In addition, the
   86  Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that any portion
   87  of a meeting of the Florida Gaming Control Commission wherein
   88  exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed be
   89  made exempt from s. 286.011, Florida Statutes, and s. 24(b),
   90  Article I of the State Constitution. The release of exempt or
   91  confidential and exempt information via a public meeting defeats
   92  the purpose of the public records exemption. If such information
   93  were part of an active investigation, the release of such
   94  information before its completion could jeopardize the ongoing
   95  investigation. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that it is a
   96  public necessity that the recording of, and any minutes and
   97  records generated during, that portion of a commission meeting
   98  that is closed to the public be made confidential and exempt
   99  from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of
  100  the State Constitution, until such time as the information is no
  101  longer exempt or confidential and exempt. This limited public
  102  records exemption ensures that the information discussed during
  103  the closed meeting remains protected while also allowing the
  104  commission to perform its statutory duties and responsibilities.
  105         Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date that
  106  SB 4A or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation
  107  is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension
  108  thereof and becomes a law.