The bill amends the Open Records Act to establish reasonable fees for electronic copies of public records, ensuring that public agencies can only charge fees that do not exceed the actual cost of providing these records, including staff time. It also mandates that no fees be charged for electronic copies deemed reasonable. Additionally, the bill allows public agencies to communicate with requesters when the estimated costs of fulfilling a records request exceed certain thresholds, promoting potential cost mitigation. It introduces exemptions from disclosure for records compiled during formally closed investigations with no violations found and for records containing obscene material. The reporting requirements for county or district attorneys regarding violations are also modified, changing the deadline from January to October.

Moreover, the bill clarifies that records related to the Kansas offender registration act are subject to disclosure, while personal identifying information of victims remains confidential. It establishes a batterer intervention program certification unit within the attorney general's office, granting access to domestic violence case records for certification purposes. The bill also emphasizes that all public body meetings must be open to the public, with specific provisions for notice and agenda availability. It outlines exceptions to the open meetings law and revises justifications for entering closed meetings, while also stating that unintentional technological failures during live streaming do not constitute a violation of open meeting laws. The act will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 45-219, 75-7d01, 75-753, 75-4318, 45-221, 75-4319
As Amended by Senate Committee: 45-219, 75-7d01, 75-753, 75-4318, 75-4319, 45-221
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: 45-219, 75-7d01, 75-753, 75-4318, 75-4319, 45-221
As Amended by House Committee: 45-221, 45-219, 75-7d01, 75-753, 75-4318, 75-4319