IN HB1093 | 2012 | Regular Session
Status
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: Engrossed on January 27 2012 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2012-02-01 - Senator Holdman added as second sponsor
Text: Latest bill text (Amended) [HTML]
Status: Engrossed on January 27 2012 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2012-02-01 - Senator Holdman added as second sponsor
Text: Latest bill text (Amended) [HTML]
Summary
Requires a public agency to: (1) allow inspection or copying; or (2) make copies; of a public record within a reasonable time after the request is received by the agency. Provides that a court may impose a civil penalty against: (1) an officer of a public agency or an individual employed in a management level position with a public agency; or (2) the public agency; for violating the open door law with specific intent to violate the law if the plaintiff obtained an advisory opinion from the public access counselor before filing an action. Provides that a court may impose a civil penalty against an officer, management level employee, or the public agency for violating the public records law if the officer, management level employee, or agency: (1) continues to deny a request for a public record after the public access counselor has issued an advisory opinion that instructs the agency to allow access to the public record; and (2) denies the request with the specific intent to unlawfully withhold a public record that is subject to disclosure. Provides that an individual or agency could be subject to a civil penalty if the individual intentionally charges a copying fee that the individual knows exceeds the amount set by statute, fee schedule, ordinance, or court order. Provides that a court may not impose a civil penalty unless the public access counselor has issued an advisory opinion that instructs the public agency to allow access to the public record before the lawsuit is filed. Provides that it is a defense to the imposition of a civil penalty under this section for a violation of the open door law or public records law if the individual acted in reliance on an opinion of the public agency's legal counsel or an opinion of the attorney general. Provides that a court may impose a civil penalty of: (1) not more than $100 for the first violation; and (2) not more than $500 for any additional violations. Provides that a court may: (1) impose only one civil penalty against an individual in an action even if the court finds that the individual committed multiple violations; and (2) impose another civil penalty against the individual in a separate action. Provides that if an officer of a state or local government agency orders a management level employee to: (1) not give proper notice of a public meeting or executive session; or (2) deny or interfere with a person's request to inspect or copy a public document; the employee is not subject to a civil penalty for violating the statute. Provides that if a local government agency has the capacity to send electronic mail, the agency shall provide notice to anyone (other than news media) that makes an annual request for notice by: (1) transmitting the notice by electronic mail; or (2) posting the notice on the agency's Internet web site (if the agency has an Internet web site). Provides that a court may not declare a governmental action void for failure to give notice by electronic mail or posting on the local government agency's web site if the agency made a good faith effort to comply with the statute. Provides that a public agency may withhold personal information from public disclosure regarding an individual less than 18 years of age who participates in an activity conducted or supervised by a state educational institution, including personal information regarding the individual's parent or guardian. Requires (rather than allows) a court to review public records in camera to determine whether redaction of the records violates the public records act. Creates an education fund for a program administered by the public access counselor to train public officials and educate the public on the rights of the public and the responsibilities of public agencies under the public access laws. Provides that a public agency has discretion as to whether to disclose a public record requested by an offender containing personal information relating to a judge, law enforcement officer, or family member of a judge or law enforcement officer.
Title
Public access issues.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2012-01-27 - House - House - Third reading: passed (Y: 90 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 6) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2012-02-01 | Senator Holdman added as second sponsor | |
| 2012-02-01 | Senator Gard added as first sponsor | |
| 2012-02-01 | Senator Holdman removed as first sponsor | |
| 2012-02-01 | Senator Gard removed as second sponsor | |
| 2012-02-01 | First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government | |
| 2012-01-27 | Senate sponsors: Senators Holdman and Gard | |
| 2012-01-27 | Referred to the Senate | |
| 2012-01-27 | Third reading: passed; Roll Call 89: yeas 90, nays 4 | |
| 2012-01-26 | Representative Candelaria Reardon added as coauthor | |
| 2012-01-26 | Second reading: ordered engrossed | |
| 2012-01-23 | Committee report: amend do pass, adopted | |
| 2012-01-17 | Representative Clere added as coauthor | |
| 2012-01-09 | First reading: referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform | |
| 2012-01-09 | Coauthored by Representative Richardson | |
| 2012-01-09 | Authored by Representative Mahan |
