Senate Bill 660 (2024) — Public records
SB 660
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2024 SB By Senator DiCeglie 18-00276A-24 2024660__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled
An act relating to public records; amending s. 823.15, 2 F.S.; providing an exemption from public records requirements for records held by an animal shelter or animal control agency operated by a local government which contain certain information pertaining to persons with legal custody of an animal; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; 8 providing a statement of public necessity; providing an effective date. 10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to
section 823.15, 14 Florida Statutes, to read: 15 823.15 Public or private animal agencies; sterilization required for dogs and cats released; recordkeeping requirements; 17 microchipping; public records exemption.— 18
(7) The personal identifying information of persons who foster, adopt, or otherwise receive legal custody of an animal from an animal shelter or animal control agency operated by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision in any record relating to the animal and held by the shelter or agency are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), 24 Art. I of the State Constitution.
This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 26 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 29 Florida Senate - 2024 SB 660 18-00276A-24 2024660__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that the personal identifying information of persons who foster, adopt, or otherwise receive legal custody of an animal from an animal shelter or animal control agency operated by a county, municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision in any record relating to the animal and held by the shelter or agency be made exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a),
Article I of the State Constitution. The Legislature finds that, as reflected in s. 823.15(1), Florida Statutes, it is an important public policy of the state to encourage the fostering, adoption, and transfer of animals and to reduce euthanasia rates for animals in animal shelters and animal control agencies.
Although such shelters and agencies are motivated to find new homes or placements for animals in their custody, potential fosterers and adopters and other persons considering receiving legal custody of animals may become discouraged from fostering, adopting, or receiving legal custody of the animals if the prior owners who lost or surrendered legal custody of the animals, or who did not reclaim the animals within the applicable time periods, can obtain their personal identifying information and attempt to regain legal custody of the animals from such persons.
The Legislature finds that the stalking, harassment, and intimidation of animal fosterers, 52 adopters, and other persons receiving legal custody of animals by prior animal owners, as well as prior animal owners’ theft of animals from such persons, are threats to public safety and welfare and to the sanctity of private property, the family, and the home.
The Legislature further finds that the need to protect the personal identifying information of animal fosterers, 58 Florida Senate - 2024 SB 660 18-00276A-24 2024660__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. adopters, and other persons receiving legal custody of animals is sufficiently compelling to override the state’s public policy of open government and that the protection of such information cannot be accomplished without this exemption. 62