Relative to fees for records under the right-to-know law.
If enacted, HB 1002 is expected to influence how public agencies interact with citizens requesting access to records. By allowing some fees for records requested, it seeks to balance the operational costs incurred by these agencies with the public's right to access government information. However, there is concern that the additional fees may deter some individuals from making records requests, thereby hindering transparency and accessibility, particularly amongst lower-income populations.
House Bill 1002 seeks to amend the existing Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) to better regulate the fees that public bodies can charge for access to governmental records. The bill provides clearer guidelines regarding when a public agency may impose charges for providing copies of requested records, aiming to enhance transparency and ensure government accountability to the public. It specifies the process outlined for public bodies, such as imposing reasonable fees while also defining circumstances that would mandate a waiver of fees for indigent individuals or requests that are deemed to be in the public interest.
Debate surrounding HB 1002 has focused on the potential implications of introducing a fee structure for access to public records. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step to fund the processing of requests without overburdening public agencies. Critics, however, raise concerns regarding accessibility and potential disparities that may arise as a result of income-based limitations on requesting public records. The provision that allows for charging fees may also lead to inconsistencies in how requests are handled across different public bodies, depending on their financial resources and willingness to comply with the established fee parameters.