The bill amends sections 394.464 and 397.6760 of the Florida Statutes to ensure that all court hearings related to mental health and substance abuse are confidential and closed to the public, unless the respondent consents or a judge finds good cause to open the hearings. It specifies that the respondent's name, along with all petitions or applications for voluntary and involuntary treatment, court orders, and related records, are confidential and exempt from public records requirements. The bill also expands the public records exemption to include these documents and allows for their disclosure to certain service providers and relevant parties, while maintaining the confidentiality of the information.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the court to use the respondent's name for scheduling and adjudicating cases, while ensuring that personal identifying information is not published in publicly accessible files. It establishes a future legislative review and repeal of the exemption, with a contingent effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill emphasizes the necessity of protecting sensitive personal information related to mental health and substance abuse disorders to prevent potential harm to individuals and their families, and to encourage individuals to seek treatment without fear of public disclosure.

Statutes affected:
H 447 Filed: 394.464, 397.6760