Florida’s Public Records Law: Understanding the Requirements

Florida’s Public Records Law: Understanding the Requirements & UCF Procedures Youndy C. Cook Deputy General Counsel

What we’ll cover What is a public record? What public records are not subject to public disclosure? – Exemptions Handling public records requests Records Retention Penalties

Public Records Definition Florida Statutes Chapter 119 defines public records as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material regardless of physical form or means of transmission made or received pursuant to law in connection with transaction of official business by the agency

Public Records Defined (cont) Functionally: almost anything created or received for UCF business is a public record Florida Supreme Court has said that “public record” encompasses all materials made or received by an agency in connection with official business which are used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge. This is true regardless of format and even when still in draft form

Public Records Come in All Shapes & Sizes A public record is a public record based on content, not based on format – Doesn’t matter if marked “Confidential” Public records may take the form of a document, an electronic file, an email, a recording (sound or video), a photograph, a 3D model, etc. The issue is whether the record was made or received by the public agency in connection with the transaction of official business.

What is not a public record? Personal Notes – Notes designed for personal use (to jog memory) & not shared Not much Transitory Messages/Documents – Not perpetuating knowledge (ex., reminder of meeting) Personal records – Personal items you have or receive at work (ex., email from Mom accidentally sent to work address) – Note: policy on use of univ equip

What is a Public Record Employment Records – Incl Salary info – Incl address, email Audit findings Emails received or created by UCF employees about official business Reports about a closed investigation Incident reports by police (after investigation closed) Interoffice business memo Meeting minutes Handbooks Policies/procedures

Public Disclosure In general, all public records must be made available for inspection and/or copying in response to a request for them. More regarding handling of records requests later in this presentation – But see University Policy 2-100.4 http:// policies.ucf.edu/documents/2-100.4FLPublicRecordsAct .pdf

What is confidential? A record may be a public record – because it was sent or received in the course of conducting UCF business and perpetuates or formalizes knowledge But not be subject to public disclosure because it contains confidential and exempt information General Counsel has responsibility for making final determination of exemptions

Records Exempt from Disclosure Education Records – Student grades, class schedule, disciplinary file, etc Faculty Academic Evaluations SSNs Medical Records Certain research records

Records with Exempt Information Some records are public records and contain mostly non-confidential information In such cases, if the record is requested, the University will identify the exempt information and redact it from the record before public disclosure – Ex. SSN on an employment record – Ex. Student information in a general univ record

Public Records Requests UCF Policy 2-100.4 (last revised Jan 2014) – http:// policies.ucf.edu/documents/2-100.4FLPublicRecor dsAct.pdf A person requesting public records is not required to reveal identity or purpose for seeking the documents – may ask for any reason or no reason at all Public records must be released within a reasonable time, under reasonable conditions,

Public Records Requests A public records request can be made – Verbally – By email or other writing If a person requests a public records in an electronic form, we must give it to the requester in that medium if that is how it is routinely maintained – Note: not required to alter

What is sufficient for a request? Magic words not required Request should reasonably describe the information or record requested Request should be specific as to time period and subject matter Custodian should not have to guess at what records the requestor is seeking

Acknowledgement We must try to acknowledge receipt of a request – Sometimes, this is not possible due to method of request Ex: “This will acknowledge the request you made [to Employee] on [Date] seeking [here describe your understanding of records request]. If you consider the request described above to be incorrect or incomplete, please provide clarification.”

Suggestions Even if request is conveyed orally, try to confirm it in writing Ask for contact information – Requestor does not have to provide it If request is confusing, ask for clarification If request is written such that extraordinary effort will be required, you may suggest to the requestor that they clarify or narrow the request

Sidenote – Email Tips Given that most email messages you send or receive for work are public record, consider carefully the content and tone of any email you send If you don’t want others to read it, don’t hit send If topic is sensitive, consider phone call

Don’ts Do not create a record to fulfill a request Do not alter an existing record to fulfill a request Do not have to change the format of an existing record to fulfill a request – Though we might want to, on occasion Do not begin collecting or copying records until request is understood and applicable charges are paid Do not have to explain records or answer questions

Access to Public Records Do not create a record to respond to a records request – If responsive records do not exist, it’s appropriate to tell a requestor just that Providing access to public records is a duty of each agency Charges may be imposed for retrieving and copying the records – Special Service Charge

Material Costs Unless specifically stated otherwise, the following statutory fees apply to copying of public records: – Single sided page - 15 per page – Double sided page - 20 per page – Certified copy - 1.00 per page Exception: maps, aerial photographs, large format photos may be reproduced and charged a fee to cover the materials used for those duplications Charge actual costs of copying only – not labor used to make the copies

Special Service Charges Section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes, authorizes the imposition of a special service charge to inspect or copy public records when the nature or volume of public records to be inspected is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both. Extensive: more than 1 hour per requestor (combine time where multiple requests) in a month’s period of time The charge must be reasonable and based on the labor or IT/computer costs actually incurred

Cost Estimate Where there will be a cost for responding to a records request, especially where there will be a special service charge, prepare a cost estimate for the requestor. This should outline your best estimate of the work required and the cost for that work. This is not a guarantee. Request prepayment

Designated Offices – per Policy Per UCF Policy, there are designated offices for some types of requests: – Request for personnel records – HR – Request for demographic data – IKM – Request from lawyer/for legal case – General Counsel – Media request – News & Information – Request for business service records – UCF Business Services

Records Retention Retention of public records is a requirement of the public records law. State has adopted retention scheduled to dictate the period of time different types/categories of records must be retained After that retention period, records may be scheduled for destruction after agency Records Manager consideration

Records Retention Resources State of Florida Library and Information Services, http://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/records-m anagement / General Records Schedule, http://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/records-m anagement/general-records-schedules / GS1-SL, http:// dos.myflorida.com/media/693574/general-records-s chedulegs01-sl.pdf GS5, http://

Penalties A person who has been denied the right to inspect and/or copy public records under the Public Records Act may bring a civil action against the agency to enforce the terms of Ch. 119 University as agency: – Attorney’s fees and costs Employee: – Potential criminal penalties (if willful and knowing) – Disciplinary action

Further Information For assistance with a public records request or a public records question: Contact the Office of the General Counsel – Call (407) 823-2482 – Email [email protected]

Questions