Kansas Open Records Act
The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Kansas. Statutes 45-215 - 45-223 passed by the Kansas legislature define the law.
The Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) legislates the methods by which public meetings are conducted. Statutes 75-4317 - 75-4320 define the law.
To learn more about how to make a public records request in this state, please see: Kansas FOIA procedures
Recent news
- See also: Kansas transparency headlines
Transparency blocking
- Sheriff denies C-J's request 2009-06-03 18:20:15
- Secrecy clouds search for Wichita superintendent 2009-06-03 18:15:39
More transparency blocking news from across the country.
Litigation
- Crop groups seek records investigation 2009-06-03 18:24:20
- Ag groups seek query of open records, meetings law violations 2009-06-03 18:22:23
More FOIA litigation news from across the country.
Legislation
- Bill reopens crime victim records 2009-06-03 18:29:03
- Kan. House advances bill on records exceptions 2009-06-03 18:18:14
More FOIA legislation news from across the country.
Sunshine Guardians
No recent news. If you have news add it here
Other Sunshine Guardians from across the country.
Relevant legal cases
- See also: Court cases with an impact on state FOIA
Here is a list of lawsuits in Kansas. For more information go the page or go to Kansas sunshine lawsuits.
(The cases are listed alphabetically. To order them by year please click the icon to the right of the Year heading)
| Lawsuit | Year |
|---|---|
| Cypress Media v. City of Overland Park | 2000 |
| Memorial Hospital Association Inc. v. Knutsen | 1986 |
| O'Hair v. USD 300 | 1990 |
| State, ex rel. Stephen v. Harder | 1982 |
| State of Kansas v. USD 305 | 1988 |
| State v. Sedgwick County Commissioners | 1989 |
| Stephens v. Van Arsdale | 1980 |
Proposed changes
2011
We do not currently have any legislation for Kansas in 2011. To add some, please see WikiProject Proposed state sunshine legislation.
2010
Here are a list of 30 random bills from Kansas from 2010. For a full list, please see Kansas transparency legislation.
We have no current bill pages for Kansas from 2010. This may be due to incomplete research. To add pages, please view ourproject page, WikiProject Proposed state sunshine legislation.
2009
Since 2000 an expiration date on new exemptions to KORA has been required. The exemptions can be renewed past the expiration date, but there must be a review first. The Kansas Senate will be debating Senate Bill 34 [1] regarding extending the life of 30 exemptions to KORA during this session. [2]
In January 2009, the Kansas Senate gave first-round approval to SB 34 on a voice vote. SB 34 renews 30 exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act. Don Moler, executive director of the League of Kansas Municipalities spoke in favor of the bill, saying, ""Every one of the exemptions that are in there are in there for a reason."[citation needed]
Kansas's transparency report card
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
A 2008 study, BGA - Alper Integrity Index, conducted by the Better Government Association and sponsored by Alper Services, ranked Kansas #18 in the nation with an overall percentage of 56.00%. [3]
A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave Kansas 47 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of "F", and a ranking of 25 out of the 50 states.[4]
A 2002 study, Freedom of Information in the USA, conducted by IRE and BGA, ranked Kansas's law as the 34th worst in the country, giving it a letter grade of "D+".[5]
Features of the law
Compare States: Sunshine variations: Click on the heading to compare your state's law to other state's transparency laws.
Declared legal intention
Public Records are addressed by Kansas statutes 45-215 - 45-223. The basis of the law state that it "is declared to be the public policy of the state that public records shall be open for inspection by any person."[6]
What records are covered?
The act defines public records as any records that are created or kept in public agencies and that pertain to the workings of the government. [7]
Exemptions
However, there are some important exception clauses. KORA 55-219.a exempts many non print records from FOIA requests by stating that, "A public agency shall not be required to provide copies of radio or recording tapes or discs, video tapes or films, pictures, slides, graphics, illustrations or similar audio or visual items or devices, unless such items or devices were shown or played to a public meeting of the governing body thereof, but the public agency shall not be required to provide such items or devices which are copyrighted by a person other than the public agency." [8]. Other exemptions include:
- Medical Records
- Personal records of employees, excluding contracts, salaries, names, and positions
- Information concerning undercover agents
- Letters of reference
- Library records
- Charitable donor information
- Testing and exam materials
- Criminal prosecution records and civili records involving the state, except where the records are deemed in the public interest and would not interfere with the trial or reveal confidential information
- Security information
- Correspondence between the state and individuals
- Employer-Employee negotiations
- Student financial information
- Oil well information
- "Notes, preliminary drafts, research data in the process of analysis, unfunded grant proposals, memoranda, recommendations or other records in which opinions are expressed or policies or actions are proposed, except that this exemption shall not apply when such records are publicly cited or identified in an open meeting or in an agenda of an open meeting. " [9]
- Work of attorneys representing the state
- Correctional records
- Prospective business information
- Academic information and research
- Archaeological information
- University Marketing information
- Military discharge papers
- Shelter information[9]
KORA also establishes guidelines for considering adding exemptions to the current list. Any potential exemptions must either be of a "personal nature concerning individuals", be necessarily concealed for efficient governing or concern confidential information.[10]
In 2009 the Kansas legislature extended 30 exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act [11]. This extension expires in 2014.
Deliberative process
What agencies are covered?
The Kansas ORA defines public agencies as any division of the state government and local government as well as any that is supported in part by public funds. The law however excludes any group who receives funds in exchange for property, goods or services; all judges, and any employee who is not given an office that is open at least 35 hours a week.[7] This includes non-profits that receive greater than $350 a year in public funds. If the non-profit segregates funds between public and private then only the budgets of public funds are available. If the organization does not segregate, then their full budgets are open to public review.[12]
It is also important to note that if records request are made to an incorrect department, the department has the responsibility of notifying the individual as to the correct department to make the request.
Legislature
The broad definition of public body found within the Kansas Open Records Act includes the state legislature. [7]
Privatized governmental agencies
The Kansas Open Records Act includes all agencies which receive public funding within it's definition of public body. [13]
Public universities
Status: Presumed Open Popular Exemptions Research Donors Examinations Course Materials [14]
The definition of public body presumably includes public universities within the state. However, testing and exam material and student financial information are explicitly exempted under Kora 45-221.
Who may request records?
Anyone may request public documents in Kansas. "All public records shall be open for inspection by any person". [15]
Must a purpose be stated?
While the law does not require an explicit statement of purpose, it does allow departments to reject records claims if it places "an unreasonable burden" on the department of if the department feels it is designed to disrupt the flow of the workings of government.[16]
How can records be used?
KORA does not permit the use of lists of names and addresses for commercial purposes outside of political and educational opportunities and the use of student lists by university sales offices. [17]
Time allowed for response
- 3 days
Kansas statutes allow for three days to respond to a request. However, if the department feels it needs more time to complete the request, it may notify the person making the request in writing and provide the earliest possible date the records will be prepared. [18]
Fees for records
Copy costs:
KORA allows for the charging of reasonable fees which can include the cost of duplication, staff time spent supervising the copying as well as fees for computer maintenance. Any fees that come out to less than $.25 a page are deemed reasonable, however larger fees may be deemed reasonable in certain situations.[8]
Search fees:
Kora permits charging for fees associated with the search and collection of records. However, these fees must be incorporated into the $.25 per page cap, except in circumstances and situations where the request is overly burdensomet. [8]
Role of the Attorney General
Under Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 45-228, the State Attorney General "or county or district attorney may:
- (a) Subpoena witnesses, evidence, documents or other material;
- (b) take testimony under oath;
- (c) examine or cause to be examined any documentary material of whatever nature relevant to such alleged violations;
- (d) require attendance during such examination of documentary material and take testimony under oath or acknowledgment in respect of any such documentary material; and
- (e) serve interrogatories" [19]
Open meetings
- To read more about open meetings in Kansas, please see: Kansas Open Meetings Act
Open Meetings are addressed by Kansas statutes 75-4317 - 75-4320. A meeting is defined as: "any gathering, assembly, telephone call or any other means of interactive communication by a majority of a quorum of the membership of a body or agency subject to this act for the purpose of discussing the business or affairs of the body or agency."
[20].
KORA/KOMA training
In June 2009 Attorney General Six's office provided public training for KORA and KOMA in Dodge City, Olathe, Topeka and Wichita.
The contents of the CD given to participants of these training classes included several files, including the Powerpoint presentations given by Assistant Attorney General Michael J. Smith:
- KOMA Outline
- KOMA Frequently Asked Questions
- KOMA Powerpoint presentation
- KORA Outline
- KORA Frequently Asked Questions
- KORA Powerpoint presentation
Notable requests
Criticisms
The act requires that government respond within three business days, but this is not always the case in practice. Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, a Kansas-based think tank, requested information from 105 counties and received fulfilled requests from only 67 counties. [21] Formal complaints filed with county attorneys were largely ignored.
The organization notes several loopholes for evading disclosure the act allows:
- The 300 exemptions to the Open Records Act that the Legislature has granted.[21]
- The provision that permits government to reject a request that causes them to 'create' a record, meaning they don’t have to provide information unless it is maintained in the exact manner in which it is requested.[21]
See also
- Kansas FOIA procedures
- Kansas transparency headlines
- Kansas transparency advocates
- Kansas transparency legislation
- Private agency, public dollars-Kansas
- Exemptions to the Kansas Open Records Act
- Kansas Open Meetings Act
External links
- Complete text of Kansas Open Records Act (current as of January 2007, and with annotations)
- Kansas Open Records Statute Search for statute 45-215, then use the "next" button to page through to 45-223.
- Kansas Open Meetings Statute Search for statute 75-4317, then use the "next" button to page through to 75-4320c.
- Open Government Guide to Kansas
- Kansas Attorney General page on open government
- Kansas Sunshine Coalition
- Past articles on Kansas
References
- ↑ SB 34
- ↑ Kan. Senate to debate open records exceptions, Associated Press, January 27, 2009
- ↑ 2008 BGA-Alper Integrity Index
- ↑ States Failing FOI Responsiveness, National Freedom of Information Coalition, October 2007
- ↑ Freedom of Information in the USA, 2002
- ↑ Open Record statute 45-216
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 KORA 45-217
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 KORA 45-219
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kora 45-221
- ↑ KORA 45-229
- ↑ Exemptions from Kansas Open Records: horsethief reservoir benefit district sales tax info, and 29 more, Kansas Meadowlark, March 26, 2009.
- ↑ KORA 45-240
- ↑ Private agency, public dollars-Kansas
- ↑ Kora 45-221
- ↑ KSA, 45-218
- ↑ KORA 45-218.E
- ↑ KORA 45-230
- ↑ KORA 45-218.D
- ↑ Kansas Statutes Annotated 45-228
- ↑ Open Record statute 75-4317a
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Open Records Law Needs an Overhaul", Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, June 15, 2009
| |||||||||||
 |
State of Kansas Topeka (capital) |
|---|---|
| Transparency |
Open Records Act | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations | |
| Divisions |
List of Counties |
List of Cities |
List of School Districts | |
| Government |
Kansas State Constitution | Executive | House of Representatives | Senate | |
| Judiciary |
Kansas Supreme Court | Court of Appeals | District Courts | Judicial Activists | Judicial selection | Judicial News | |
| Ballot Measures |
Ballot measures | Local ballot measures | Recall campaigns | School bond elections | Initiative & referendum law | Ballotpedia:History of direct democracy in Kansas | |
