Bill > S1792

This bill expands an existing exemption from public records requirements, meaning certain information will no longer be readily available to the public. Specifically, records related to pawnbroker transactions that are delivered to the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), a state agency responsible for law enforcement and criminal justice, will now be considered confidential. This exemption applies to the general public records law (s. 119.07(1)) and a constitutional provision (s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution) that guarantees public access to government records. The bill clarifies that these confidential records can only be used for official law enforcement purposes, though law enforcement officials can still share the pawnbroker's and customer's names and addresses, along with a description of the pawned item, with the alleged owner of that property. Furthermore, this exemption is subject to a future legislative review process known as the Open Government Sunset Review Act, and it will automatically expire on October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature actively votes to extend it. The bill also includes a statement of public necessity, explaining that this expansion is needed to protect sensitive personal information from pawnbroker transactions, such as names, addresses, and even thumbprints, which could increase the risk of identity theft for individuals involved. The Legislature believes that the potential harm from releasing this information outweighs any public benefit of disclosure, and that this exemption will help ensure consistent treatment of such records across different law enforcement agencies and support the statewide sharing of information about secondhand dealer transactions. Finally, the bill's effective date is contingent on another piece of legislation, SB 1582, also becoming law during the same legislative session.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1792