House committee passes 911 privacy bill

A Florida House panel has approved a bill aimed at barring the public from hearing 911 calls unless a judge rules in favor to make an exception.

Nate Lee - the husband of Denise Amber Lee, who in 2008 was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Michael King - and his family struggled with the state's decision to make public Denise's call to 911 on her killer's cell phone just before her death.

But Lee also credits public access with making a difference when it came to reviewing the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office bungling of the call that some believe could have helped save her life.

"I'm not really a big fan of this bill," Lee said. "I think it's a bad bill."

The move under way at the Capitol is to restrict public access to 911 transcripts 60 days after the call takes place or after showing "good cause" in court.

For those wanting to review a 911 tape, hearing what happened would not be an option.

"If there's something wrong and a 911 center botches the call or something happens, I want to know what's going on," Lee said.

He understands the pain from making 911 calls public.

Denise Lee's call to 911 on King's cell phone captures the 21-year-old mother of two pleading for her life.

"I know that they're trying to rally other families and not really showing them the whole picture," Lee said.

The president of the Florida Farm Bureau, John Hoblick, pushed for the ban after Orlando TV stations played portions of a 911 call surrounding his teenage son's drug overdose. Rep. Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill, introduced the bill.

In a letter to lawmakers involved in the bill, Lee said, "The proposal shelters 911 centers from scrutiny.

"We are victims that this bill purports to represent but we feel saving another family from the pain and suffering that we have endured is far more important than saving us from hearing Denise's last words. Please do not pass this bill."

The House Governmental Affairs Policy Committee, which is chaired by Schenck, approved the bill 8-5 Wednesday. One official said no one mentioned Lee's letter.