Arkansas FOIA procedures
From Sunshine Review
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[edit] How to request public records in Arkansas
Each state varies slightly in the procedures used to gain access to public documents. This article serves to describe specifically the steps used in Arkansas.
[edit] Who may request public records?
Any citizen of the state of Arkansas (with the exception of convicted felons and/or representatives on a felon's behalf other then their lawyer). [1]
[edit] Fees
Fees for providing public records may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction and transmission (mail, fax, etc), and may not include "agency personnel time associated with searching for, retrieving, reviewing, or copying the records".
If the estimated fee would exceed $25, the custodian of the records may require pre-payment of the full amount. An itemized breakdown of all fees must be provided.
Fees are not required to be assessed; if the custodian deems the records to be in the public interest, they may be provided at no cost.[2]
[edit] Response Time
"Access to records apparently must be granted immediately unless the records are in active use or storage, in which case they must be made available within three working days of the request. While the FOIA contemplates immediate access, the custodian has a "reasonable time" to respond to the request if the records are voluminous or if they must be reviewed to decide whether an exemption applies. Reasonableness is determined on a case-by-case basis, and an agency policy that all responses will be made in three working days is contrary to the act."[3]
[edit] Exemptions
There are multiple exemptions to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. See Exemptions to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act for more detail.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Arkansas Legislative Code search for 25-19-105
- Open Government Guide to Arkansas
- Arkansas on WikiFOIA
[edit] References
- ↑ Examination and copying of public records search for 25-19-105
- ↑ Examination and copying of public records search 25-19-105
- ↑ Open Government Guide to Arkansas How long to wait
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