Section 39.00145(4), F.S. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all state and local agencies and programs that provide services to children or that are responsible for a child’s safety, including the listed agencies, and any provider contracting with such agencies, may share with each other confidential records or information if the records or information are reasonably necessary to ensure access to appropriate services for the child. However, records or information made confidential by federal law may not be shared. Also, this subsection does not apply to information concerning clients and records of certified domestic violence centers which are confidential under s. 39.908 and privileged under s. 90.5036. Section 39.0132(3), F.S. The clerk shall keep official records required by this chapter separate from other court records. The records may be inspected only upon court order by persons deemed to have a proper interest therein, except that, subject to the provisions of s. 63.162, a child and the parents of the child and their attorneys, guardian ad litem, criminal conflict and civil regional counsels, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Children and Families and its designees shall have a right to inspect and copy records pertaining to the child. Section 39.0132(4)(a)1., F.S. All information obtained pursuant to this part in the discharge of official duty by any of the officials specified in the subsection is confidential and may not be disclosed to anyone other than persons entitled to receive such information under Ch. 39 or upon court order. Section 39.0132(4)(a)2., F.S. The following information held by a guardian ad litem is confidential and exempt: medical, mental health, substance abuse, child care, education, law enforcement, court, social services, and financial records; and any other information maintained by a guardian ad litem which is identified as confidential information under Ch. 39, F.S. Such confidential and exempt information may not be disclosed to anyone except as authorized in the exemption. Section 39.101(3)(b), F.S. The Department of Children and Families shall maintain the confidentiality of the telephone number, or Internet protocol (IP) address from which the report was received by the central abuse hotline which is included in the abuse report pursuant to this subsection in the same manner as given to the identity of the reporter pursuant to s. 39.202. Section 39.202(1), F.S. All records held by the Department of Children and Families concerning reports of child abandonment, abuse or neglect including reports made to the central abuse hotline and all records generated as a result of such reports are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and shall not be disclosed except as specifically authorized by this chapter. Such exemption from s. 119.07(1) applies to information in possession of those entities granted access pursuant to this section. Section 39.202(2)(o), F.S. Access to records concerning reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect shall be granted to any person in the event of the death of a child determined to be a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Information identifying the person reporting abuse, abandonment, or neglect shall not be released, nor shall any information otherwise made confidential or exempt by law. Section 39.202(5), F.S. The name of, or other identifying information with respect to, any person reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect shall not be released to any person except as authorized in the subsection, without the written consent of the reporter. Section 39.202(6), F.S. All records and reports of the Child Protection Team of the Department of Health are confidential and exempt from ss. 119.07(1) and 456.057, and shall not be disclosed, except as provided in the subsection. Section 39.301(18), F.S. When the initial interview with the child in a child protective investigation or criminal investigation is conducted at school in the presence of school staff, information received during the interview or from any other source regarding the alleged abuse or neglect of the child shall be confidential and exempt, except as otherwise provided by court order. Section 39.507(2), F.S. Dependency adjudicatory hearings are open to the public, unless by special order the court determines that the public interest or welfare of the child is best served by closing the hearing. Section 39.510(4) and (5), F.S. The case on appeal in a dependency proceeding and any papers filed in appellate court shall be entitled with child’s initials. The papers shall remain sealed and shall not be open to public inspection. The original order of the appellate court with papers filed in an appeal shall be sealed and not open to inspection except by order of the appellate court. Section 39.702(5)(d), F.S. An independent not-for-profit agency authorized to administer a citizen review panel established to make recommendations concerning foster care as provided in this section shall ensure that all panel members have read, understood, and signed an oath of confidentiality relating to written or verbal information provided to members for review hearings. Section 39.809(4), F.S. All hearings involving termination of parental rights are confidential and closed to the public. Section 39.814(3) and (4), F.S. All court records required by this part (termination of parental rights) shall be kept separate from other records. Such records are not open to public inspection. All information obtained pursuant to this part by officials specified therein shall be confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and may not be disclosed to anyone other than the authorized officials and agencies, except by court order. Section 39.815(4) and (5), F.S. An appeal in a case involving a termination of parental rights must be docketed, and any papers filed in the appellate court must be titled with the initials, but not the name, of the child and the court case number, and the papers must remain sealed in the office of the appellate court clerk when not in use by the court and may not be open to public inspection. The original order of the appellate court, with all papers filed in the case on appeal, must remain in the clerk’s office, sealed and not open to inspection except by court order. Section 39.821(1), F.S. Information collected pursuant to the security background investigation for a guardian ad litem is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1). Section 39.827(4), F.S. The hearing for appointment of a guardian advocate is confidential. The court records are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and may be inspected only upon court order or by the persons and entities identified in the subsection. All information obtained pursuant to this part is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and shall not be disclosed to anyone other than authorized personnel of the court or the Department of Children and Families and its designees, except upon court order. Section 39.908, F.S. Information about clients received by the Department of Children and Families or by authorized persons employed by or volunteering services to a domestic violence center, through files, reports, inspection or otherwise is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1). Except as provided in the section, information about the location of domestic violence centers and facilities is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1). (Florida Office of the Attorney General // © March 9, 2023)
