SB 224- Relating to Public Records/Public Agency Contracts

On Tuesday, March 10th, SB 224, relating to Public Records/ Public Agency Contracts, by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-New Port Richey) unanimously passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee with 10 yeas and 0 nays.

This bill addresses the procedure for obtaining records relating to a public agency’s contract for services with a private contractor. As it stands today, the Florida Constitution provides every person the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with the official business of any public body, officer, or employee of the state, or of persons acting on their behalf. However, the issue is who the party responsible for providing these public records is. If this bill becomes law, requests for records relating to a public agency’s contract for services must be made to the public agency instead of the contractor. An agency who receives a request for records possessed by a contractor must attempt to obtain the records from the contractor. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

AIF supports legislation that reduces frivolous law suits against Florida businesses.