Title: Public Records

Summary: Requiring an agency or a public body that receives a request to inspect or copy a record to make, within a specified timeframe, such record available, deny the request, or provide a certain statement in writing, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; requiring an agency or a public body that receives a request to inspect or copy a record to make, within a specified timeframe, such record available, deny the request, or provide a certain statement in writing; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 119.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 119.07 Inspection and copying of records; photographing public records; fees; exemptions.  (9) (a)  After receiving a request to inspect or copy a record, an agency may not respond to that request by filing an action for declaratory relief against the requester to determine whether the record is a public record as defined by s. 119.011, or the status of the record as confidential or exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). (b)   If, after receiving a request to inspect or copy a record, an agency or a public body is unable to make the record immediately available for inspection and copying, the agency or public body must, within business days after the request: 1.   Make such record available; 2.   Deny the request; or 3.   Provide a written statement of the time reasonably necessary to determine whether the request will be granted or denied and the reason for the delay. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.