Rhode Island House Bill H5457

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

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.