The bill aims to enhance the privacy and security of public servants in Florida by creating a new section in the Florida Statutes, specifically section 111.101, which addresses the nondisclosure of personal information for certain public employees and officials. It defines key terms and allows these individuals, referred to as "covered persons," to provide written notice to data brokers to prevent the disclosure of their protected information, which includes home addresses, phone numbers, and other personal identifiers. Data brokers are prohibited from disclosing or redisclosing this information after receiving such notice and must comply within ten business days. The bill also outlines the process for civil actions against data brokers that fail to comply, establishing a standard of ordinary negligence for liability.
Additionally, the bill provides for various definitions, including those for "data broker," "protected information," and "covered person," which encompasses a wide range of public servants, including law enforcement officers, judges, and elected officials. It specifies that a data broker's violation of the nondisclosure requirement can result in damages, including actual or liquidated damages of $1,000 per violation, punitive damages for willful disregard, and the recovery of attorney fees. The act is set to take effect on January 15, 2027, and includes provisions for severability to ensure that if any part of the law is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.