The News Service of Florida
May 9, 2017
With supporters saying the change will help police solve crimes, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a bill that will keep confidential the identities of murder witnesses for two years after the crimes occur. The bill (HB 111), which overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate, will create a public-records exemption for identifying information about murder witnesses. During legislative debate, supporters of the bill said many witnesses fear retaliation for cooperating with police. Lawmakers said the records exemption would make witnesses more willing to provide information about murders. But the First Amendment Foundation asked Scott last week to veto the bill, saying “it offends our constitutional right of access to government information and is antithetical to our criminal justice system and rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.” [READ MORE]