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 reflect the actual cost of providing these records, including staff time calculated based on employee salaries without benefits. It introduces a communication requirement for agencies when the estimated costs of fulfilling a records request exceed certain thresholds and allows requesters to appeal the reasonableness of the fees charged. Additionally, the bill exempts from disclosure records compiled during closed investigations with no violations found and those containing obscene material, while also requiring county or district attorneys to report violations to the attorney general in October instead of January.

Moreover, the bill establishes a batterer intervention program certification unit within the attorney general's office, granting access to domestic violence case records for certification purposes. It emphasizes transparency in public meetings by clarifying that interactive communications among a majority of public body members must be open to the public and that meetings of subcommittees must comply with open meeting requirements. The bill also outlines exceptions to the open meetings law and revises justifications for entering closed meetings, while repealing outdated provisions. It 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