Title: Public Records/Florida Employment and Training Services Program

Summary: Providing an exemption from public records requirements for specified materials and information received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., while administering the Florida Employment and Training Services Program; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to public records; amending s. 295.22, F.S.; providing an exemption from public records requirements for specified materials and information received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., while administering the Florida Employment and Training Services Program; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (5) is added to section 295.22, Florida Statutes, to read: 295.22 Veterans Employment and Training Services Program.  (5)  PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION. Materials that relate to methods of manufacture or production, potential trade secrets, potentially patentable material, actual trade secrets, workforce training plans, business transactions, business plans, military records, skills assessments and career goals, resumes and contact information, certificates, financial and proprietary information, and agreements or proposals to receive funding which are received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., including partnership and training participants, such as private enterprises, educational institutions, and other organizations, for the purposes of administration of the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program as provided in subsection (3) are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. The exemption does not apply to aggregated data that does not contain personal identifying information which is collected for reporting purposes. This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.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 materials that relate to methods of manufacture or production, potential trade secrets, potentially patentable material, actual trade secrets, workforce training plans, military records, skills assessments and career goals, resumes and contact information, certificates, financial and proprietary information, and agreements or proposals to receive funding which are received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., be made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. To be effective, manufacturing programs must use materials that relate to methods of manufacture or production, potential trade secrets, potentially patentable material, actual trade secrets, workforce training plans, business transactions, business plans, financial and proprietary information, and agreements and proposals to receive funding. If competitors were privy to such information, they could take advantage of that information to the financial detriment of the company submitting the information or proposal, which would chill participation in the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program operated by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. The Legislature further finds that it is necessary the skills assessments and career goals received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., be made confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. Public disclosure of such information could lead to discrimination or ridicule of an applicant to the program. Resumes and contact information received, generated, ascertained, or discovered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., must be made confidential and exempt from s. 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution. Such information may contain personal identifying information that could put veterans at risk of identity theft. Public knowledge of such information may create a heightened risk of fraud and identity theft for applicants. The exemption is narrowly written so that certain aggregate information may still be disclosed. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.