Subcommittee backs public-records exemption for statewide lethality-assessment forms

The Florida House Government Operations Subcommittee on Monday voted 17-0 to report favorably on House Bill 1479, a measure that would create a public-records exemption for lethality-assessment forms and answers collected by law enforcement from alleged victims of domestic violence.

Representative Baker, the bill sponsor, told the committee the state Legislature previously required law enforcement officers who investigate alleged domestic violence incidents to administer a 12-question lethality assessment and said HB 1479 "creates a public records exemption to make the lethality assessment form, and the answers exempt from public record." Baker said the assessment will be consistent across the state to help protect victims.

The bill’s sponsor and the committee discussed how shelters might receive completed forms so victims would not need to repeat the questions. Representative Gant asked whether other agencies, such as the Department of Children and Families, would still be able to access the information when children are involved; Baker said he expected that question to be addressed by the Senate and that the form could be shared directly with shelters.

There were no amendments and one witness, Barney Bishop of the Florida Smart Justice Alliance, waived in support. After brief debate, Representative Baker waived closing and the committee clerk called the roll. The committee recorded 17 yes votes and 0 no votes and showed the bill "reported favorably."

If enacted, HB 1479 would withhold from public disclosure the standardized lethality-assessment form and the victim responses identified in the bill text. The bill text and any specific access carve-outs for child-protection agencies were not detailed on the committee record; Representative Baker said the Senate was also considering related language.

The subcommittee chair returned the gavel to the full committee at the end of the item and moved on to the next agenda item.