SB 972FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026dead

Proposed Privacy Exemptions for Respiratory Care Compact

Original title: Public Records and Meetings/Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

March 13, 2026

healthcare public records privacy interstate compacts respiratory therapy

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The Frame

What this does

If enacted, this bill would restrict public access to specific therapist data and government meeting records, which the state argues is necessary to participate in the multi-state licensing compact.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Respiratory therapists

Their personal identifying information, excluding name and license status, would be shielded from public records requests.

Department of Health

The department is granted authority to withhold specific therapist records from public disclosure.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission

The commission is authorized to conduct closed meetings for sensitive discussions.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill would shield certain personal information of respiratory therapists from public records requests and allow the Respiratory Care Commission to hold private meetings. These exemptions are intended to align Florida law with the requirements of the national Respiratory Care Interstate Compact.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information about respiratory therapists would remain public?

A therapist's name, licensure status, and licensure number would remain public record.

Why does the state need to close these meetings?

The bill states that the Respiratory Care requires the closure of meetings discussing sensitive and confidential matters, and without this exemption, Florida could not participate in the compact.

Will these exemptions last forever?

No, the exemptions are set to expire on October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts them.

Why It Matters

If enacted, this bill would restrict public access to specific therapist data and government meeting records, which the state argues is necessary to participate in the multi-state licensing compact.

News Coverage

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1 source

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Interstate Compact Dependency

The bill explicitly ties Florida's public records and open meeting laws to the requirements of a national interstate compact, demonstrating how multi-state agreements can override state-level transparency standards.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission