Florida Senate - 2016                              CS for SB 702
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senators Altman
       and Dean
       
       582-03675-16                                           2016702c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records; amending s.
    3         97.0585, F.S., and reenacting subsection (3), relating
    4         to a public records exemption for information
    5         regarding voters and voter registration; providing an
    6         exemption from public records requirements for
    7         information concerning minor preregistered voter
    8         registration applicants; providing for future
    9         legislative review and repeal; providing for
   10         retroactive application; providing a statement of
   11         public necessity; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 97.0585, Florida
   16  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) of that section is
   17  reenacted, to read:
   18         97.0585 Public records exemption; information regarding
   19  voters and voter registration; confidentiality.—
   20         (1) The following information held by an agency as defined
   21  in s. 119.011, and obtained for the purpose of voter
   22  registration, is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and
   23  s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and may be used only
   24  for purposes of voter registration:
   25         (a) All declinations to register to vote made pursuant to
   26  ss. 97.057 and 97.058.
   27         (b) Information relating to the place where a person
   28  registered to vote or where a person updated a voter
   29  registration.
   30         (c) The social security number, driver license number, and
   31  Florida identification number of a voter registration applicant
   32  or voter.
   33         (d) All information concerning preregistered voter
   34  registration applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age. This
   35  paragraph is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in
   36  accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2,
   37  2021, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment
   38  by the Legislature.
   39         (3) This section applies to information held by an agency
   40  before, on, or after the effective date of this exemption.
   41         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   42  necessity that all information concerning preregistered voter
   43  registration applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age which is
   44  held by an agency, and obtained for the purpose of voter
   45  registration, be confidential and exempt from public records
   46  requirements and be used only for purposes of voter
   47  registration. Information concerning preregistered 16-year-old
   48  and 17-year-old voter registration applicants could be misused
   49  if released. Minors are more vulnerable members of society, and
   50  the widespread release of information acquired through
   51  preregistration activities may be used to solicit, harass,
   52  stalk, or intimidate such individuals. Without such protection,
   53  a minor may be less likely to take advantage of preregistering
   54  to vote, thus hindering the effective and efficient
   55  administration of a program that otherwise encourages greater
   56  participation in the democratic process.
   57         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.