Florida HB 287: Pub. Rec./Applicants, Owners, and Operators of Family Foster Homes and References of Such Persons

Bill Text

CS/HB 287 2026

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hb287-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to public records; amending s. 2
409.175, F.S.; providing confidentiality and an 3
exemption from public records requirements for the 4
personal identifying and location information of 5
applicants for family foster homes and the names and 6
personal identifying and location information of the 7
spouses, children, and other adult household members 8
of such applicants; providing confidentiality and an 9
exemption from public records requirements for the 10
personal identifying and location information of 11
current and former owners and operators of family 12
foster homes and the names and personal identifying 13
and location information of the spouses, children, and 14
other adult household members of such owners and 15
operators; providing confidentiality and an exemption 16
from public records requirements for the personal 17
identifying and location information of character or 18
neighbor references of a family foster home applicant 19
or a current or former owner or operator of a family 20
foster home; providing for future legislative review 21
and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of 22
public necessity; providing an effective date. 23
24
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25

CS/HB 287 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

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Section 1. Subsection (16) of section 409.175, Florida 27
Statutes, is amended to read: 28
409.175 Licensure of family foster homes, residential 29
child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies; public 30
records exemption.— 31
(16)(a)1. The following information held by the Department 32
of Children and Families regarding a family foster home parent 33
applicant and his or her such applicant's spouse, children minor 34
child, and other adult household members member is confidential 35
and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 36
Constitution: 37
a. The home, business, work, child care, or school 38
addresses and telephone numbers; 39
b. Birth dates; 40
c. Medical records; 41
d. The floor plan of the home; and 42
e. Photographs of such persons. 43
2. If a foster parent applicant does not receive a foster 44
parent license, the information made exempt pursuant to this 45
paragraph shall become public 5 years after the date of 46
application, except that medical records shall remain exempt 47
from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 48
Constitution. 49
2.3. This exemption applies to information made 50

CS/HB 287 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

confidential and exempt by this paragraph before, on, or after 51
the effective date of the exemption. 52
(b)1. The following information held by the Department of 53
Children and Families regarding a current or former owner or 54
operator of a family foster home and his or her licensed foster 55
parent and the foster parent's spouse, children minor child, and 56
other adult household members member is confidential and exempt 57
from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State 58
Constitution: 59
a. The home, business, work, child care, or school 60
addresses and telephone numbers; 61
b. Birth dates; 62
c. Medical records; 63
d. The floor plan of the home; and 64
e. Photographs of such persons. 65
2. If a foster parent's license is no longer active, the 66
information made exempt pursuant to this paragraph shall become 67
public 5 years after the expiration date of such foster parent's 68
foster care license except that: 69
a. Medical records shall remain exempt from s. 119.07(1) 70
and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. 71
b. Exempt information regarding a licensed foster parent 72
who has become an adoptive parent and exempt information 73
regarding such foster parent's spouse, minor child, or other 74
adult household member shall remain exempt from s. 119.07(1) and 75

CS/HB 287 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. 76
2.3. This exemption applies to information made 77
confidential and exempt by this paragraph before, on, or after 78
the effective date of the exemption. 79
(c) The name, address, and telephone number of persons 80
providing character or neighbor references regarding a family 81
foster home applicant or a current or former owner or operator 82
of a family foster home foster parent applicants or licensed 83
foster parents held by the Department of Children and Families 84
are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a),