This bill amends section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes to provide specific exemptions from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current or former emergency physicians, as well as their spouses and children. The bill defines "emergency physician" and outlines the types of information that will be exempt, including home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, places of employment, and photographs. The exemption applies retroactively to information held by agencies before, on, or after the effective date of the exemption, which is set for July 1, 2026.
Additionally, the bill includes a statement of public necessity, emphasizing that emergency physicians often face threats of violence and harassment due to the nature of their work. The Legislature asserts that protecting the identifying and location information of these individuals and their families is crucial to their safety, and that the potential harm from disclosing such information outweighs any public benefit. The exemption is subject to review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will automatically repeal on October 2, 2031, unless reenacted by the Legislature.