FL S0314

Personal identifying information in dental workforce surveys submitted by dentists and dental hygienists to the Department of Health for license renewal is made confidential and exempt from public records requirements.

Information may be disclosed with the individual's written consent, by court order upon showing good cause, or to approved research entities under a data-use agreement with restrictions on identifying individuals.

Department of Health may deny research requests if the protocol involves intrusive follow-up contacts, lacks scientific merit, fails to plan for record destruction, or is administratively burdensome.

The exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and shall automatically repeal on October 2, 2016, unless reenacted by the Legislature.

The Legislature finds the confidentiality necessary to ensure candid responses and accurate workforce data for maintaining adequate availability of dental professionals in Florida.