Florida Senate - 2022                                     SB 756
       
       
        
       By Senator Diaz
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00564-22                                            2022756__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to public records; amending s.
    3         943.0583, F.S.; providing that the personal
    4         identifying information of a victim of human
    5         trafficking in a petition for human trafficking victim
    6         expunction and in all pleadings and documents related
    7         to the petition is confidential and exempt from public
    8         records requirements; providing for future legislative
    9         review and repeal of the exemption under the Open
   10         Government Sunset Review Act; 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 (12) is added to section 943.0583,
   16  Florida Statutes, to read:
   17         943.0583 Human trafficking victim expunction.—
   18         (12)(a) The personal identifying information of a victim of
   19  human trafficking in a petition filed under this section and in
   20  all pleadings and documents related to the petition is
   21  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I
   22  of the State Constitution.
   23         (b) This subsection is subject to the Open Government
   24  Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
   25  repealed on October 2, 2027, unless reviewed and saved from
   26  repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
   27         Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
   28  necessity that the personal identifying information of a victim
   29  of human trafficking in a petition filed under s. 943.0583,
   30  Florida Statutes, and in all pleadings and documents related to
   31  the petition be made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1),
   32  Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State
   33  Constitution. Persons who are victims of human trafficking and
   34  who have been convicted of crimes committed at the behest of
   35  their traffickers are themselves victims of crimes. These
   36  victims face barriers to employment and loss of other life
   37  opportunities, and the fact that they are seeking expungement,
   38  as well as the information contained in related pleadings and
   39  documents, would expose these petitioners to possible
   40  discrimination due to details of their past lives becoming
   41  public knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary that the personal
   42  identifying information of victims of human trafficking in these
   43  petitions, pleadings, and related documents be made confidential
   44  in order for human trafficking victims to have the chance to
   45  rebuild their lives and reenter society.
   46         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.