THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 661
Pub. Rec./Private Investigators
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to public records; amending s.
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119.071, F.S.; providing an exemption from public
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record requirements for the personal identifying and
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location information of current and former private
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investigators licensed by the Department of
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Agriculture and Consumer Services and the spouses and
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children of such private investigators; providing for
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future legislative review and repeal of the exemption;
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providing a statement of public necessity; providing
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an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (l) is added to subsection (5) of
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section 119.071, Florida Statutes, to read:
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119.071 General exemptions from inspection or copying of
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public records.—
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(5) OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION.—
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(l) The home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth,
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and photographs of current and former private investigators
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licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
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the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth,
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and places of employment of the spouses and children of current
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and former private investigators licensed by the Department of
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Agriculture and Consumer Services; and the names and locations
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of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of
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current and former private investigators licensed by the
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Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are exempt from
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s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
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This paragraph is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review
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Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on
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October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through
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reenactment by the Legislature.
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Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public
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necessity that the home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of
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birth, and photographs of current and former private
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investigators licensed by the Department of Agriculture and
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Consumer Services; the names, home addresses, telephone numbers,
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dates of birth, and places of employment of the spouses and
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children of current and former private investigators licensed by
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the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and the
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names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended
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by the children of current and former private investigators
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licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
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be made exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s.
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24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. Private
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investigators routinely engage in sensitive work that may
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involve uncovering fraud, locating missing persons, or assisting
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in criminal and civil matters. In the course of their duties,
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private investigators often interact with individuals who have
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strong motives to retaliate or cause harm. Public access to a
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private investigator's home address or personal information
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could expose private investigators and their families to
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threats, harassment, stalking, or physical violence. Protecting
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this information does not diminish transparency or
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accountability in government but instead balances the public's
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right to access records with this state's compelling interest in
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safeguarding the personal safety of those who provide critical
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private investigative services. Therefore, exempting such
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information from public records requirements is a reasonable and
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necessary measure to ensure the security and privacy of private
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investigators and their families while preserving the integrity
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of this state's public records system.
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This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. Section 3.