Title: Public Meetings/Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities

Summary: Providing an exemption from public meetings requirements for portions of meetings of the Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities at which exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to public meetings; providing an exemption from public meetings requirements for portions of meetings of the Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities at which exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity; providing a contingent effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  Any portion of a meeting of the Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities, as created by SB ____, 2023 Regular Session, or similar legislation, at which exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed is exempt from s. 286.011, Florida Statutes, and s. 24(b), Article I of the State Constitution. This section is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15, Florida Statutes, and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. Section 2.  The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that any portion of a meeting of the Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities at which exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed be made exempt from s. 286.011, Florida Statutes, and s. 24(b), Article I of the State Constitution. The purpose of the commission is to investigate system failures and the causes and reasons for high crime and gun violence incidents in urban and inner-city neighborhoods and communities and to develop recommendations for system improvements. In order to fulfill its directive, the commission must be able to discuss exempt or confidential and exempt information that it receives as part of its investigation. The public meetings exemption will allow the commission to review and discuss exempt or confidential and exempt information that will be useful in forming meaningful recommendations for system improvements. As such, it is a necessity that those portions of meetings at which exempt or confidential and exempt information is discussed be made exempt from public meetings requirements. If such portions of those meetings are not closed, the public records exemption would be negated. Thus, the Legislature finds that the public meetings exemption is a public necessity in order to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Commission on Public Safety in Urban and Inner-City Communities. 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.