Request response times by state
From Sunshine Review
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Response time generally refers to the time frame within which a public body must either provide the requested records, ask for an extension to gather the records, or deny the request.
In 15 states (Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming), there is no statutory time limit for public agencies to reply to open records requests. In 2008, Tennessee adopted a statutory time limit (seven days) for the first time.
The other 35 states specify a time within which public documents must either be furnished, denied, or an extension may be requested. Rhode Island gives the longest reply time (up to 30 days) and Mississippi requires the quickest turn-around of records (1 day if the agency does not have a written policy stating otherwise).
The mandatory response time under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act will be reduced on January 1, 2010 from seven days to five days.[1]
[edit] See also
- State sunshine laws
- Years that state FOIA laws were enacted
- List of who can make public record requests by state
[edit] External links
- Citizen Access Project
- Open Government Guide
- Across-States Comparison of Public Records response times, prepared by Bill Harbaugh in 2009.
[edit] References
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Gov. Pat Quinn signs overhaul of state's open records law", August 18, 2009
- ↑ Tennessee, Rhode Island improve open records laws
- ↑ See Changes in state FOIA laws
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