Access to Information
Public Records
Citizens should be able to request a public record from a government agency (state or local) in Florida and have that request fulfilled in a timely manner.
What are Public Records?
Florida’s Public Records Law, Ch. 119, Florida Statutes, provides a right of access to the records of the state and local governments as well as to private entities acting on the government’s behalf.
Section 119.011(12), Florida Statutes, defines “public records” to include: all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.
Public Meetings
Floridians should be notified in advance and have the right to access all government meetings.
What is a Public Meeting?
Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law, section 286.011, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law”, provides a right of access to governmental proceedings of public boards or commissions at both the state and local levels.
The law is equally applicable to elected and appointed boards and applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action. Members-elect to such boards or commissions are also subject to the Sunshine Law, even though they have not yet taken office.
There are three basic requirements of section 286.011, Florida Statutes:
(1) meetings of public boards or commissions must be open to the public;
(2) reasonable notice of such meetings must be given; and
(3) minutes of the meetings must be taken and promptly recorded.
More on Florida Public Records and Meetings –
View the 2020 Edition: Government in the Sunshine Manual
Visit the Florida Attorney General’s Website: www.myflsunshine.com
Research Publications
Budget Transparency in the Sunshine State
Download the full PDF report here
December 2012
Executive Summary
According to a March 2012 report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) titled
“Following the Money 2012,” Florida received a D grade (59/100) on a report card of how the 50
states rate in providing online access to government spending data. […]