Bill making it easier to pay for public records stalls this Session

A bill to eliminate some of the hoops in obtaining public records doesn’t seem likely to advance this Session.

SB 798/HB 671 would have required public agencies to provide an electronic option to pay for public record requests.

Oftentimes, people who want to obtain a police report, law enforcement body cam footage, court transcripts or other public records are stuck writing personal checks or obtaining money orders to pay for the records if the government agency doesn’t accept credit card payments online.

However, neither the House or Senate bill has been called to a committee vote so far as the Legislature’s Session is winding down. Regular Session ends May 2 under the current schedule.

Tuesday marks the 50th day of Session. Senate rules say, “Unless approved by the President, no committee shall meet after the fiftieth day of a regular session except the Rules Committee.”

Sen. Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat, sponsored SB 798 which had been referred to three committees but not called up for a vote with the deadline looming. Those committees were the: Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; and Fiscal Policy.

Meanwhile the House version was sponsored by Rep. Daryl  Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat. Cambell’s bill was referred to three panels: the Government Operations Subcommittee and the Budget and State Affairs committees.

The public records bill is one of several pieces of legislation that hasn’t moved forward this year. Other dead bills include one bill that would have required the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to set up a “quality certification” program for fish and shrimp and another bill to allow photos to be taken in polling places under select circumstances. Two other bills that never got called to a hearing this Session dealt with protecting parents and public employees who legally consume medical marijuana.