HLS 10RS-2888 ORIGINAL
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Approved
6-21-10
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST NO. 12
BY REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON
COMMITTEE STUDIES: Requests the House and Senate governmental affairs committees
to study issues regarding public records, particularly fees, the impact of such fees,
access, and effects of voluminous requests
A CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST1
To the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on2
Senate and Governmental Affairs to meet and to function as a joint committee to3
study issues related to public records, including the fees charged for obtaining copies4
or reproductions of public records; the impact of such fees on the financing and5
funding of certain public entities, particularly certain local public officials and6
bodies; the access to and reproduction of public records in various computerized and7
electronic formats; and voluminous public records requests and to make8
recommendations regarding those issues no later than thirty days prior to convening9
of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.10
WHEREAS, R.S. 44:31 provides that any person of the age of majority may inspect,11
copy, or reproduce or obtain a reproduction of any public record and that any person may12
obtain a copy or reproduction of any public record, except as otherwise provided by law; and13
WHEREAS, R.S. 44:32 provides that for all public records, except public records of14
state agencies, the custodian of the records may establish and collect reasonable fees for15
making copies of such records; and 16
WHEREAS, jurisprudence related to the issue of access to public records favors a17
liberal construction of the laws relative to public records so as to enlarge rather than restrict18
access to public records by the public; and19 HLS 10RS-2888 ORIGINAL
HCSR NO. 12
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WHEREAS, the law requires prompt response to requests for public records; and1
WHEREAS, occasionally a public body or official receives a request for public2
records which is so voluminous it impacts the normal operations of the office; and3
WHEREAS, a study of the issues surrounding public records, including requests,4
fees, format of records, and timeliness of response would be beneficial both for the citizens5
of this state and public bodies and officials, particularly local governmental officials and6
bodies.7
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on House8
and Governmental Affairs and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs9
to meet and to function as a joint committee to study issues related to public records,10
including the fees charged for obtaining copies or reproductions of public records; the11
impact of such fees on the financing and funding of certain public entities, particularly12
certain local public officials and bodies; the access to and reproduction of public records in13
various computerized and electronic formats; and voluminous public records requests and14
to make recommendations regarding those issues no later than thirty days prior to convening15
of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.16
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Pearson HCSR No. 12
Requests the House and Senate governmental affairs committees to meet and to function as
a joint committee to study issues related to public records, including the fees charged for
obtaining copies or reproductions of public records; the impact of such fees on the financing
and funding of certain public entities, particularly certain local public officials and bodies;
the access to and reproduction of public records in various computerized and electronic
formats; and voluminous public records requests and to make recommendations regarding
those issues no later than 30 days prior to the 2011 R.S.