Alabama Senate committee OKs bill requiring timely responses to public records requests

By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector, April 9, 2024

An Alabama Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill that would require state agencies to acknowledge and respond to public records requests within a certain timeframe.

SB 270, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would set a 10-day deadline for agencies to acknowledge requests for public records. The office would have 15 business days to make a decision to approve, deny or deny in part the request, which may be extended for another 15 days with notice to the requester.

The bill would give requestors the right to sue if the request has not been approved or denied or if the records have not been produced after fees are paid within 30 business days or 60 calendar days.