2012 House Bill 5879

Cap FOIA charges and increase government FOIA scofflaw penalties

Introduced in the House

Sept. 11, 2012

Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R-65)

To cap at 10-cents per copy charge imposed by a government entity for documents provided under a state Freedom of Information Act request, and require that they permit and not charge a fee for a FOIA requestor’s making copies with his or her own equipment during an on-site records inspection authorized by this law. Also, to reduce the amount charged by a government entity for FOIA-related administrative and copying costs by 20 percent for each day its response exceeds the five-day statutory deadline (plus specified extensions), and increase the punitive awards to a person who successfully challenges an improper FOIA denial from $500 to $5,000, plus actual or compensatory damages.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight, Reform, and Ethics