Senate Bill 1596c1

    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 1596

    By the Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care; and
    Senator Bronson




    317-2039-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to public records; providing an

  3         exemption from public records requirements for

  4         court documents that might identify a pregnant

  5         minor who petitions for a waiver of the notice

  6         requirements pertaining to her request to have

  7         her pregnancy terminated; providing findings of

  8         public necessity; providing a contingent

  9         effective date.

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11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  When a minor petitions a circuit court for

14  a waiver of the notice requirements pertaining to a minor

15  seeking to terminate her pregnancy, any information in

16  documents related to the petition which could be used to

17  identify the minor is confidential and exempt from section

18  119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and Section 24 (a) of Article I

19  of the State Constitution.

20         Section 2.  The Legislature finds that it is a public

21  necessity that information in court records identifying a

22  minor who has petitioned the court for a waiver of parental

23  notification requirements be confidential and exempt from

24  public records requirements because disclosure of such

25  information is not in the best interest of the minor. In

26  addition, the Legislature finds that public disclosure of

27  identifying information may expose minors who have been

28  physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected by a parent

29  or guardian to the risk of retribution.

30         Section 3.  This act shall take effect on the same date

31  that Senate Bill 1598 or similar legislation creating the

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 1596
    317-2039-99




  1  "Parental Notice of Abortion Act" takes effect, if such

  2  legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an

  3  extension thereof.

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  5          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  6                         Senate Bill 1596

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  8  Clarifies that the public records exemption applies to any
    information in court documents which might identify a minor
  9  petitioning the court for a waiver of parental notification
    requirements.  Clarifies that the exemption is necessary
10  because the release of identifying information is not in the
    best interest of the minor, and may expose her to the risk of
11  retribution in instances of physical or sexual abuse or
    neglect.
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