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The 1995 Sunshine Review Act incorporates the provisions of
Section 119.15 as the criteria by which legislators should review Sunshine Law exemptions. Fla. Stat. § 286.0111. Under the 1995 Act, an exemption must fit within one of three categories of identifiable public purposes, and must be seen as
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documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of physical form, characteristics or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official
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any state, county district, authority, or municipal officer, department division, board, bureau, commission, or other separate unit of government created or established by law ... and any other public or private agency, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of any public
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very person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and examined by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian of the public record or the custodian's designee. The custodian shall
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The exact number of statutory exemptions to the open records law is hard to assess, but estimates exceed 200. In response to criticisms that
Florida's public records law had been undermined by the many exemptions, the Florida Legislature enacted the
167:. Fla. Stat. § 119.15. This "Sunset" law provides for the periodic repeal of all exemptions, and mandates periodic review of the specific criteria which should be considered when reviewing the exemptions.
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Going back to 1905, before the law was formalized, Florida courts have held that it is not up to the government to determine the use to which a person might put public documents once copies are received.
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Unless the legislative review demonstrates a compelling interest in retaining a particular exemption that has been enacted and the legislature reenacts the exemption, it is repealed automatically.
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Since the
Sunshine Review Act, the legislature has exhibited a resolve to streamline exemptions, allowing confidentiality only to the extent necessary to protect important competing values.
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it is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records shall at all times be open for a personal inspection by any person.
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The
Florida Supreme Court has held that only statutory exemptions from the inspections provision of Chapter 119 may be recognized,
244:"Sunshine Review – detailed explanation of the Florida public document and public record (Sunshine) laws and applications"
155:; although courts must give effect to competing constitutional rights where inspection would otherwise compromise them.
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compelling enough to override the strong presumption of openness articulated in Fla. Stat. § 119.15(2).
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Similarly, access to judicial records and proceedings has been broadly granted by
Florida courts.
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furnish a copy or a certified copy of the record upon payment of the fee prescribed by law ...
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A "public record" of an agency is subject to a broad legislated public right of inspection:
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For
Freedom of information law in other United States jurisdictions, see
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The statute expansively defines "public record" to include all
54:, codified at Fla. Stat. secs. 286.011 to 286.012 (1991)),
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Freedom of information legislation in the United States
39:(codified at Fla. Stat. secs. 119.01 to 119.15 (1995)),
232:. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
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191:
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103:With equal breadth, the law defines "agency" as
18:Freedom of information in the United States
165:Open Government Sunset Review Act of 1995
74:The Florida Public Records Law states,
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157:Florida Freedom Newspapers v. McCrary
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218:
113:Fla. Stat. sec. 119.001(2) (1995).
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14:
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277:497 So.2d 652 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)
153:Wait v. Florida Power & Light
98:Fla. Stat. sec. 119.011(1) (1995)
31:
287:13 Fla. St. U.L. Rev. 705 (1985)
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83:Fla. Stat. sec. 119.01(1) (1995)
192:Judicial access decisional law
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25:open government laws in Florida
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58:Judicial access decisional law
1:
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27:are focused on three areas:
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268:372 So.2d 420 (Fla. 1979)
43:Statutory public meetings
32:Statutory public records
93:business by any agency.
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230:Open Government Guide
185:Further information:
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187:Florida Sunshine Law
128:Section 119.07(1)(a)
52:Florida Sunshine Law
250:on 30 November 2010
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310:Florida statutes
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135:Sunshine Review
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252:. Retrieved
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305:Florida law
254:1 September
206:Florida Man
299:Categories
212:References
147:Exemptions
226:"Florida"
200:See also
126:—
111:—
96:—
81:—
108:agency.
50:(the
256:2010
23:The
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159:.
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65:.
61:↓
46:↓
35:↓
20:.
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