The bill amends the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 by adding a new section, 5755, which establishes guidelines for the handling of records in summary proceedings related to the termination of an individual's tenancy. Under this new provision, records will be maintained as nonpublic until a judgment for possession is entered in favor of the plaintiff. Once a judgment is made, these records will become public for a period of two years, after which they will revert to nonpublic status. However, if the judgment is based on specific serious offenses, such as illegal substance activity or threats of physical harm, the records will remain public for three years.

Additionally, the bill allows for the release of nonpublic records for scholarly, educational, journalistic, or governmental purposes, provided that certain conditions are met to protect tenant confidentiality. These conditions include the submission of a written request by the researcher, court approval, and the execution of a data use agreement that outlines the terms of use and confidentiality measures. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining tenant privacy while allowing for the use of data for research purposes.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 600.101, 600.9947