FL H7159

Amends section 627.0628, F.S. to expand the public records exemption for trade secrets used in designing and constructing insurance flood loss models to explicitly include flood loss models (previously only referenced hurricane loss models).

Exempts trade secrets provided by private companies to the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology, the Office of Insurance Regulation, or an appointed consumer advocate from public records requirements under Florida Statutes section 119.07(1) and the State Constitution.

Exempts portions of meetings and rate proceedings where confidential trade secrets are discussed from public meeting requirements, but requires the closed meetings to be recorded with no off-the-record portions allowed.

Exempts recordings of closed meeting portions from public records disclosure to protect the confidentiality of discussions and prevent competitors from accessing proprietary model information.

Establishes a sunset date of October 2, 2019 for the exemption, subject to review and reenactment by the Legislature under the Open Government Sunset Review Act; takes effect contingent upon passage of HB 879 or similar legislation.