House Bill 231 amends section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes to define "medical examiner" and establish exemptions 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 includes home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs, which will be 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 and potential repeal of the exemption.

The bill also outlines the process for maintaining the exempt status of this information, requiring a written and notarized request from the individual or their employing agency. County property appraisers and tax collectors are mandated to comply with such requests by removing the exempt individual's information from public records. Furthermore, the exemptions will be subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will automatically expire on October 2, 2030, unless renewed by the Legislature. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance privacy protections for medical examiners and their families while ensuring oversight and review mechanisms are in place.

Statutes affected:
H 231 Filed: 119.071