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Committee advances bill to exempt partial home and family contact information for public officers
Summary
The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability reported favorably CS for SB 268, a bill that would exempt partial home addresses, telephone numbers and certain family location details for current public officers; an amendment narrowing the exemption and requiring requesters to provide information to records custodians was adopted.
CS for SB 268, a bill to create a public-records exemption intended to protect certain home and family contact details for public officers, was reported favorably by the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability on a voice/roll call after an amendment was adopted.
Senator Broder, explaining the bill on behalf of absent sponsor Senator Jones, said the measure “creates a public records exemption for our governor, the cabinet, elected officials, to protect a partial home address and telephone number of not only themselves, their selves but their spouses as well as the their children's names and location of their school or daycare facilities.” He said the change aims to keep elected officials and their families safer amid threats and harassment.
The committee also adopted an amendment (barcode 890218) explained by Senator Broder as one that “simply narrows the definition of a public officer to specify others that weren't already included in that” and clarifies that the exemptions apply to current public officers and “requires individuals . . . who claim the exemption to provide the specific information to the public records custodian.” The amendment was adopted by voice vote and the committee proceeded to consider the bill as amended.
Chair Fine described personal experience with threats to explain his support for the bill, saying he has had “2 people arrested prosecuted and imprisoned for making death threats” and described the security response those threats prompted. He also said he has asked Senator Jones to consider additional changes—extending protections for candidates running for office and including federal legislators—at later stops of the bill's progress.
Tamara (committee clerk) called the roll on the committee substitute for SB 268. Members recorded as voting yes on the committee substitute in the transcript are Senator Arrington, Senator Broder, Senator McLean, Senator Polsky, Senator Rodriguez, Vice Chair DeSigley, and Chair Fine. By the committee's announcement, “CS for SB 268 is reported favorably.” The transcript does not record any “no” votes or abstentions during the roll call presented in the record.
No public commenters or outside witnesses are recorded in the transcript for this agenda item. The bill sponsor, Senator Jones, was noted as absent and represented by Senator Broder for the explanation and amendment.
What the committee did not decide at this meeting: the transcript does not show whether the bill language was changed to cover candidates for office or federal legislators; Chair Fine said he had asked Senator Jones to address those issues at later stops but the committee did not adopt language on those points during this hearing.
Votes at a glance: CS for SB 268 — reported favorably (roll call as recorded in the transcript: Sen. Arrington — Yes; Sen. Broder — Yes; Sen. McLean — Yes; Sen. Polsky — Yes; Sen. Rodriguez — Yes; Vice Chair DeSigley — Yes; Chair Fine — Yes).
