Shortly after a Polk County man won a lawsuit granting him access to Polk school employees' dependent information, state Sen. Paula Dockery (left) asked the Attorney General's Office whether the judge's decision was in keeping with Florida and federal health records laws.

The laws are "designed to protect privacy of patients and the insured," Dockery wrote. "This is an issue of great concern to me, and your assistance in helping me to determine whether modification of the existing laws is warranted is very much appreciated."

Have at it, senator.

The AG informed Dockery
this afternoon that Joel Chandler's information request, which he since has submitted to every school district in the state, would best be solved by the Legislature:

"Clearly, information relating to an insurance program participant's medical condition is protected from disclosure. However, there is no clear statement that such protection extends to the name, address, age or other non-medical information of such participants. ... Due to the lack of clarity in this matter and in light of the recent decision by the Polk County Circuit Court, it may be advisable for the Legislature to clarify its intent on this issue."

Count on that. If Dockery, who didn't return calls to her office, doesn't act, state Sen. Mike Fasano (right) of New Port Richey told the Gradebook he's already on it.

"We plan on proposing some legislation in the upcoming regular session," Fasano said, adding that staffers already are working on language to "protect, in some ways, the privacy and safety of our school employees."

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