Florida § 560.121 - Access to records; record retention; penalties.

§ 560.121. Access to records; record retention; penalties.

(1) Orders of courts or of administrative law judges for the production of confidential records or information must provide for inspection in camera by the court or the administrative law judge; and, if the court or administrative law judge determines that the documents requested are relevant or would likely lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, the court or the administrative law judge must issue further orders to protect the confidentiality of the documents. Any order directing the release of information is immediately reviewable, and a petition by the office for review of the order shall automatically stay further proceedings in the trial court or the administrative hearing until the disposition of the petition by the reviewing court. A petition for review of the order filed by any other party shall operate as a stay of the proceedings only upon order of the reviewing court. (2) Confidential records and information furnished pursuant to a legislative subpoena must be kept confidential except in cases involving the investigation of charges against a public official subject to impeachment or removal, and then disclosure of such information shall be only to the extent determined to be necessary by the legislative body or committee. (3) Examination reports, investigatory records, applications, and related information compiled by the office, or photographic copies thereof, must be retained by the office for at least 5 years after the date the examination or investigation ceases to be active. Application records, and related information compiled by the office, or photographic copies thereof, must be retained by the office for a period of at least 5 years after the date the license ceases to be active. (4) Any person who willfully discloses information made confidential by this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.