FL H0421

Creates section 197.3225 of Florida Statutes to establish a public records exemption for taxpayer e-mail addresses held by tax collectors for specific purposes related to tax notices and electronic communication.

Exempts from public disclosure e-mail addresses used for: sending quarterly prepayment tax notices, obtaining taxpayer consent for electronic tax notices, sending additional or delinquent tax notices, and sending notices to mortgagees or vendees.

E-mail addresses provided for purposes other than those listed remain public records and are not exempt from disclosure requirements.

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

Effective date is July 1, 2014; legislation cites protection against identity theft, scams, and invasive contacts as the public necessity for the exemption.