FL H0115

Amends s. 1004.28, F.S. to exempt portions of meetings of university direct-support organization boards and committees from public meeting requirements when discussing research funding proposals or plans/programs for initiating or supporting research.

Exemption applies to meetings of the board of directors, executive committee, or other committees of the direct-support organization under s. 1004.28, F.S.

Exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and shall automatically repeal on October 2, 2019, unless the Legislature reenacts it.

Legislature finds exemption is necessary because research proposals and strategies contain sensitive proprietary information; maintaining confidentiality is standard practice at the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health and is essential for candid peer review.

Effective date: October 1, 2014.