Florida Senate - 2022 SB By Senator Baxley 12-00902-22 2022938__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled

An act relating to public records; amending s. 2 16.7121, F.S.; providing an exemption from public records requirements for records containing personal identifying information of a person who is seeking assistance through the Compulsive and Addictive Gambling Prevention Program; providing for a future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; 8 providing a statement of public necessity; providing a contingent effective date. 10

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12

Section 1. Present subsection (6) of

section 16.7121, 14 Florida Statutes, as created by SB ____, 2022 Regular Session, 15 is redesignated as subsection (7) and a new subsection (6) is added to that section, to read: 17 16.7121 Compulsive and Addictive Gambling Prevention Program.— 19

(6) The personal identifying information of a person who is seeking assistance through the Compulsive and Addictive Gambling Prevention Program is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2027, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. 27

Section 2. The Legislature finds that, as reflected in s. 28 16.7121(1), Florida Statutes, it is an important public policy Florida Senate - 2022 SB 938 12-00902-22 2022938__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. of the state to recognize and mitigate the adverse impact of compulsive and addictive gambling behaviors. Even though such behaviors impact many people throughout society, it is still highly stigmatized. That social stigma prevents people from taking steps to seek out information and resources that would help them.

In order to encourage people to seek assistance from the Compulsive and Addictive Gambling Prevention Program, it is important that their personal identifying information remains confidential and exempt. The Legislature therefore finds that it is a public necessity that the personal identifying information of a person seeking assistance through the Compulsive and Addictive Gambling Prevention Program be made exempt from s. 41 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a),

Article I of the State Constitution. The Legislature further finds that the need to protect this information 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. 47

Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date that SB ____ or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes a law. 51