Fla. Stat. § 663.540 — Florida Code / Title XXXVIII / Chapter 663 / Part IV / Section 663.540
663.540 Public records exemption.
Status: in_force

(1) DEFINITIONS. — As used in this section, the term: (a) “Reports of examinations, operations, or condition” means records submitted to or prepared by the office as part of the office’s duties performed pursuant to s. 655.012 or s. 663.537. (b) “Working papers” means the records of the procedure followed, the tests performed, the information obtained, and the conclusions reached in an investigation or examination performed under s. 655.032 or s. 663.537. The term includes planning documentation, work programs, analyses, memoranda, letters of confirmation and representation, abstracts of the books and records of a financial institution, as defined in s. 655.005, and schedules or commentaries prepared or obtained in the course of such investigation or examination.

(2) PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION. — The following information held by the office is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution: (a) Any personal identifying information of the customers or prospective customers of an affiliated international trust entity which appears in the books and records of a qualified limited service affiliate or in records relating to reports of examinations, operations, or condition of a qualified limited service affiliate, including working papers. (b) Any portion of a list of names of the shareholders or members of a qualified limited service affiliate. (c) Information received by the office from a person from another state or country or the Federal Government which is otherwise confidential or exempt pursuant to the laws of that state or country or pursuant to federal law.

(3) AUTHORIZED RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT INFORMATION. — Information made confidential and exempt under subsection (2) may be disclosed by the office: (a) To the authorized representative or representatives of the qualified limited service affiliate under examination. The authorized representative or representatives must be identified in a resolution or by written consent of the board of directors, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a corporation, or of the managers, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a limited liability company. (b) To a fidelity insurance company, upon written consent of the qualified limited service affiliate’s board of directors, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a corporation, or of the managers, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a limited liability company. (c) To an independent auditor, upon written consent of the qualified limited service affiliate’s board of directors, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a corporation, or of the managers, if the qualified limited service affiliate is a limited liability company. (d) To the liquidator, receiver, or conservator for a qualified limited service affiliate, if a liquidator, receiver, or conservator is appointed. However, any portion of the information which discloses the identity of a customer of the affiliated international trust entity, or a shareholder or member of the qualified limited service affiliate, must be redacted by the office before releasing such portion to the liquidator, receiver, or conservator. (e) To a law enforcement agency in furtherance of the agency’s official duties and responsibilities. (f) To the appropriate law enforcement or prosecutorial agency for the purpose of reporting any suspected criminal activity. (g) Pursuant to a legislative subpoena. A legislative body or committee that receives records or information pursuant to such a subpoena must maintain the confidential status of the records or information, except in a case involving the investigation of charges against a public official subject to impeachment or removal, in which case the records or information may be disclosed only to the extent necessary as determined by such legislative body or committee.

(4) PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION. — This section does not prevent or restrict the publication of a report required by federal law.

(5) PENALTY. — A person who willfully, in violation of this section, discloses information made confidential and exempt by this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History: s. 3, ch. 2017-84; s. 2, ch. 2022-102.