Sam Olens thinks “too many government agencies are not taking [the Open Records Act] seriously enough.” True enough.
As it stands, the maximum fine for a violation of the Open Records Act is $100, and for a violation of the Open Meetings Act it’s $500. Olens said he wants the maximum penalties for both to be $1,000. Any subsequent violations over the following year by the same agency would cost $2,500 apiece.
Olens said the bill also would require Open Records Act requests to be made in writing, not verbally as allowed under current law. It also would require agencies to immediately prepare and turn over an Open Records Act request if it is expected to cost less than $50. If the request is expected to cost more than $1,000, the agency can require the payment be made before the request is processed.
Excellent.
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