Panel advances new civil injunction for 'serious violence by a known person' and shields petitions from public disclosure

The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice advanced SB 32 and SB 210 from Senator Sharif to create a civil-protection path for victims of a single act of serious violence by a person they know and to shield petition records from disclosure in the same circumstances as other injunctions.

Senator Sharif told the committee SB 32 closes a gap in existing law by allowing a petitioner to seek an injunction for protection when a known person has committed an act resulting in serious bodily injury and the incident has been reported to law enforcement with the petitioner cooperating. The sponsor said the petition and process would follow the same procedures used for existing injunctions and that the new order would be included in the statewide verification system that tracks protective orders.

SB 210 would extend the public-records exemption under current law (as referenced to Florida Statute 119.0714 during the hearing) to petitions for injunctions for serious violence by a known person, providing the same confidentiality protections that apply to other types of injunction petitions in certain circumstances (for example, when disclosure could endanger the petitioner before service). Supporters including the Florida Smart Justice Alliance waived in support.

The committee reported both measures favorably by roll call. No amendments were adopted in committee.