House Bill 231 amends section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes to define "medical examiner" and establish an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former medical examiners, as well as their spouses and children. This exemption includes home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs, which are deemed exempt from public disclosure under sections 119.07(1) and 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting the privacy and safety of these individuals due to the sensitive nature of their work and includes provisions for future legislative review, ensuring that the exemption remains subject to oversight.

The bill also provides for retroactive application and includes a statement of public necessity, highlighting the need to safeguard the personal information of medical examiners. It outlines the process for maintaining the exempt status of this information, requiring a written and notarized request from the individual or their employing agency, and mandates that county property appraisers and tax collectors comply by removing the exempt individual's information from public records. The exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will automatically expire on October 2, 2030, unless renewed by the Legislature, thereby balancing privacy protections with legislative accountability.

Statutes affected:
H 231 Filed: 119.071