The bill amends sections 394.464 and 397.6760 of the Florida Statutes to establish that all court hearings related to mental health and substance abuse are confidential and closed to the public, unless there is consent from the respondent or a judicial finding of good cause. It specifies that the names of respondents and all related petitions or applications for treatment are confidential and exempt from public records requirements. The bill also expands the public records exemption to include certain petitions and applications, allowing for the disclosure of confidential documents to specific service providers and authorizing courts to use respondents' names for scheduling and adjudicating cases.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions, with a sunset clause set for October 2, 2030, unless renewed by the Legislature. The intent behind these changes is to protect sensitive personal information regarding individuals' mental health and substance abuse disorders, which are considered private medical conditions. The bill aims to prevent potential harm to respondents and encourage individuals to seek treatment without fear of public disclosure of their personal information.

Statutes affected:
S 1494 Filed: 394.464, 397.6760