The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) is dedicated to ensuring public access to records in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, known as the Florida Public Records Act. To facilitate prompt and efficient compliance with your public records request, please review the following information carefully.
What Are Public Records?
Public records, as defined by section 119.011(12), Florida Statutes, include all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other materials, regardless of physical form or means of transmission, made or received in connection with official agency business.
Requesting Public Records
DOEA processes public record requests in the order in which they are received and attempts to fulfill all requests as quickly as possible. Broad or complex requests may take longer to process and may incur a “special service charge” allowed by section 119.07(4)(d), F.S. Requests that clearly identify custodians, search terms, and date ranges may allow DOEA to provide responsive records in a more timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
DOEA only processes requests for records it maintains as the records custodian. DOEA is not required to create a record that does not exist nor answer requests for information submitted as a public records request. Requests for records held by another state agency should be directed to that agency.
When making a public records request, please note the following:
- You are not required to provide your name.
- You are not required to explain the purpose of your request.
- You are not required to submit the request in writing.
- You may also contact DOEA using one of the methods below.
Contact Information for DOEA Records, please contact:
Department of Elder Affairs
Office of the General Counsel
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
4040 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000
Email: doeapublicrecords@elderaffairs.org
DOEA Custodian of Records
DeErica Culver, Office of the General Counsel
Phone: 850-414-2114
Email: doeapublicrecords@elderaffairs.org
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) Records
Under federal law, all files, records, and other information maintained by the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) or local Ombudsman entities may be disclosed only at the discretion of the Ombudsman or Ombudsman’s designee. See 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)(2)(A). Further, both federal and state law prohibit the disclosure of the names or identities of complainants or residents involved in a complaint, including any problem identified pursuant to an investigation, unless consent is given or the disclosure is required by court order. See 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)(2)(B); section 400.0077(1), Florida Statutes.
Contact Information for LTCOP Records, please contact:
Public Records Coordinator
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Department of Elder Affairs
4040 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000
Phone: 850-414-2323
Email: ltcoppublicrecords@elderaffairs.org
