Agenda 03/25/2008 Item # 9B
Agenda Item No. 98
March 25, 2008
Page 1 of 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves, and forwards to the
Legislative Representatives of Lee and Collier Counties, a Resolution supporting House Bill
965 and Senate Bill 1660 which will exempt certain personal information of active and
former emergency medical technicians and paramedics from public records requirements.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board of County Commissioners approves, and forwards to the
Legislative Representatives of Lee and Collier Counties, a Resolution supporting House Bill 965
and Senate Bill 1660 which will exempt certain personal information of active and former
emergency medical technicians and paranledics from public records requirements.
CONSIDERATIONS: Paramedics and EMTs, while servicing the public, are put at risk each
and every day in the same manner police, fire, and sheriff personnel. As they may deal with
individuals such as gang members, suspected child abusers, prisoners, or individuals with violent
mental health issues, to name a few, the potential retaliation and violence toward these public
servants and families are continually at risk. Additionally, EMTs and paramedics are called on
regularly to testify for the State Attorney's Office or for federal prosecutors. Currently, named
defendants have access to all of this contact information, including addresses and phone
numbers. Not only does the current Sunshine Law place public safety workers in danger but this
also places them at risk for identity theft.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The Office of the County Attorney has approved the attached
Resolution for legal sufficiency.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners, in an effort to protect
those who serve the community, approve and forward the attached Resolution to House and
Senate members to emphasize our support of House Bill 965 and Senate Bill 1660.
PREPARED BY:
Commissioner Tom Henning
Page 1 of 1
Agenda Item No. 98
March 25, 2008
Page 2 of 3
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
98
Meeting Date:
A resolution of the Board of County Commissioners supporting House Bill 965 and Senate
Bill 1660, exemption of certain personal information of employees working as paramedics
and EMTs, (CommIssioner Henning)
3/25/2008900:00 AM
Prepared By
Sam Tucker
Executive Aide to the BCe
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
BCC Office
3/1912006 6:26:42 AM
Approved By
Sue Filson
Executive Manager to the BCe
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
Bce Office
3119/2006 9:01 AM
Approved By
James V. Mudd
County Manager
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
County Manager's Office
3/19/2008 9:09 AM
file://C :IAgenda TestlExportl 103 -March%2025, %202008109 .%20BOARD%200F%20COU... 3/19/2008
Agenda Item No 9B
March 25, 2008
Page 3 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-_
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING HOUSE BILL 965
AND SENATE BILL 1660, EXEMPTION OF
CERTAIN PERSONAL ['<FORMATION OF
EMPLOYEES WORKING AS PARAMEDICS AND
EMTs.
WHEREAS, public safety personnel are put at risk daily with the job they do for the
public and while off duty they should not have to fear retaliation from a past 911 call; and
WHEREAS, EMTs and paramedics regularly deal with violent mental health patients,
gang members, suspected child abusers and prisoners, which are only a few of the examples for
potential retaliation and violence toward these public servants and their families; and
WHEREAS, EMTs and paramedics are called on regularly to testify for the State
Attorney's Office or for federal prosecutors and currently named defendants have access to all of
this contact information, including addresses and phone numbers. Not only does the current
SlIDshine Law place public safety workers in danger, but this also places them at risk for identity
theft; and
WHEREAS, it is dangerous to have ANY public employee's personal information
available to anyone without just cause, as the law stands today; and
WHEREAS, over the last three years, legislation has been proposed to include EMT's and
paramedics in the current law enforcement and firefighters exemption for the release of personal
contact information.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA. that Collier County supports Senate
Bill 965 and House Bill 1660 and urges the Legislature to move this piece of legislation to the
Committee on State Affairs to the floor of the House of Representatives for passage.
This Resolution adopted this
motion, second and majority vote.
day of
, 2008, after
ATTEST:
DWIGHT E. BROCK. CLERK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
, Deputy Clerk
By:
TOM HENNING, CHAIRMAN
By:
Approved as to form
and legal sufficiency:
Jeffrey A. KIatzkow
Chief Assistant County Attorney