HB 7103 Summary

• Amends s. 288.9626 and creates s. 288.9627 to reorganize public records and open meetings exemptions for the Florida Opportunity Fund and Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research into separate statutes.

• Reduces the confidentiality period for proprietary confidential business information from 10 years to 7 years after termination of alternative investments or the institute's financial commitment.

• Clarifies exemptions for the Florida Opportunity Fund apply to prospective investments, alternative investments, and proprietary confidential information; exempts materials relating to manufacturing methods, trade secrets, patents, and research by universities and publicly supported organizations.

• Establishes procedures allowing proprietors to prevent disclosure of confidential information and permits any person to petition courts in Orange County (Fund) or Palm Beach/Alachua County (Institute) for release of exempt records upon showing compelling public interest.

• Imposes criminal penalties of first-degree misdemeanor for willful and knowing violations of public record or meeting exemptions; effective October 1, 2012.