HB 997 Summary

• Creates section 1004.098 of Florida Statutes to exempt personal identifying information of applicants for president of state universities and Florida College System institutions from public records requirements under Florida Statutes section 119.07(1) and Florida Constitution Article I, section 24(a).

• Makes personal identifying information of final group applicants no longer confidential beginning at the earlier of when the final group is established or 21 days before an interview or employment vote is scheduled.

• Exempts portions of meetings held to identify or vet presidential applicants from public meeting requirements under Florida Statutes section 286.011 and Florida Constitution Article I, section 24(b), but requires complete recordings of all closed portions that cannot be held off the record.

• Exempts meeting recordings from public records requirements, and excludes from the exemption any meetings held after a final applicant group is established or meetings addressing position qualifications and compensation frameworks.

• Sunsets the exemptions on October 2, 2026, unless reenacted by the Legislature; becomes effective July 1, 2021.