Page 6 - Professional Investigators Day – Debunking Myths - AFI-LLC Newsletter July 2021

Professional Investigators Day – Debunking Myths - AFI-LLC Newsletter July 2021
Other State Legislative News
California – Sealing of Criminal Records
The CA legislature continues to move at a fast pace to pass their own criminal records sealing bill – which is even more
concerning than has passed in Colorado. If you are a professional investigator in CA – join CALI and be part of the voice
opposed to this and other damaging legislation.

Florida – Public Will Get More Access To Civil Court Records After Florida Supreme Court Ruling
(Harriett Gold – Gold Investigations in FL and GA)
“Most civil court records in Florida go back to not being screened by the clerk’s office first. Tremendous win for open
records. Back to old days. Great step towards transparency.” – Harriet Gold (we agree, it has long been time to return to
open records and transparency, and not more restrictions – something Colorado and all other states need to learn)
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled court clerks cannot screen civil court files for redaction purposes before releasing
for viewing or copying.
-- continued at www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-supreme-court-access-ruling-20210611-
leogung2wjdbnhwesa366zsooe-story.html

Michigan – State Supreme Court Orders – then delays – Redaction from Court Filings
As part of AO 1994-4, effective 07/01 2021 the court ordered the removal of all personal identifiers from public court
files other than the defendant's name. On 06/30/2021 the same court stayed their order until 01/01/2022. As is the
growing national trend, this is a knee jerk reaction to protect individual privacy and personal identifiers. Examples to be
redacted in filing with the state courts are DOBs, SSNs, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, addresses, etc).

Tennessee – Changes PI Licensing Oversight
(Kelly Riddle, TBCI – Kelmar Global)
In Tennessee PI licensing will no longer be regulated by the Tennessee Private Investigator and Polygraph Commission,
and is now under the newly created Detection Services Licensing Program under the Department of Commerce and
Insurance. Private investigators will no longer be required to affiliate with a licensed investigations company. This seems
to be a trend. As Kelly said, “This seems to be a trend.”

What is your state legislative and association news we can share?

NCISS with National and State Associations Working Together
NCISS, working with state associations, is asking for help with the following:
• Who has a state DMV / Data / Privacy bill?
• Do you think it will pass or does it have enough support?
• How can NCISS and other associations assist?

NCISS continues to work with associations to monitor the aggressive nature of state legislatures and agencies restricting
lawful access to these important records and information for the public health and safety work by private investigators.

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