Requires a member of the public to pay any outstanding balances due and owing for previous requests before being provided copies of records and documents on a new request from law enforcement agencies.
Impact
A significant aspect of H5457 is its provision that a person must pay any outstanding balances for previous requests before new requests can be processed. This requirement is aimed at managing the workload of public bodies and ensuring that past records requests are honored financially before future requests can be accommodated. This change could have implications for individuals or entities that frequently request public records, as they would need to be vigilant about clearing outstanding balances to maintain their access.
Summary
House Bill 5457 aims to amend existing laws regarding access to public records in Rhode Island. This legislation sets forth clear guidelines about the fees that can be charged for searching and retrieving documents. Specifically, it stipulates that the cost for photocopying written documents cannot exceed fifteen cents per page. For the search and retrieval of documents, the bill establishes a reasonable fee cap at twenty-five dollars per hour, allowing charges for retrieval only after the first hour free of charge. This allows for greater clarity and consistency in how public entities handle requests for information.
Contention
While aimed at streamlining public record access, some advocates for transparency may argue that this bill might create barriers for less affluent individuals seeking access to government information. The stipulations around fees may disproportionately affect those who cannot afford to pay old fees before making new requests, thereby potentially diminishing public accountability and transparency efforts. The bill could be subject to debate around the balance between fiscal responsibility of public bodies and the public's right to access government records without financial hindrance.
Requires a member of the public to pay any outstanding balances due and owing for previous requests before being provided copies of records and documents on a new request from law enforcement agencies.
Provides that public bodies not be required to hold open-forum sessions on any topic not on the meeting notice and limits comment on any topic not previously posted.
Makes changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public.
Makes changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public.
Makes all documents and information related to any bid proposal relative to state purchases public records and available for inspection and review by any person seeking the records under chapter 2 of title 38 after the opening of the bids.