A bill sponsored by a Jacksonville legislator is on its way to the governor, enabling big lottery winners to keep their names secret.
The Senate voted 37-1 on Thursday to create a public records exemption (HB 159) for the names of people who win lottery prizes of $250,000 or more. Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, cast the only dissenting vote.
Democratic Rep. Tracie Davis of Jacksonville sponsored the bill, which passed the House by 114-1 on Feb. 2.
Davis said people have been exploited or attacked after winning lottery games.
"Persons who win valuable lottery prizes have been the targets of violent and nonviolent criminal acts based upon publicly available identifying information," the bill said.
The winners' names would become public after 90 days, giving them time to get financial affairs in order. Winners also could choose to release their names earlier if they wished.
The $250,000 mark was set because prizes of that amount or more require winners to travel to lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.
The bill would take effect with the governor's signature.
Information from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.
