The bill amends the Open Records Act and the Open Meetings Act in Kansas to enhance transparency and accessibility of public records. Key provisions include the prohibition of unreasonable fees for electronic copies of records, ensuring that no per-page fee will be charged. It also changes the reporting timeline for district attorneys regarding violations, moving the deadline from January to October. Additionally, the bill exempts formally closed investigations with no found violations from disclosure, streamlining the handling of certain records. The bill also requires public bodies that live stream meetings to ensure public accessibility and allows for a five-minute deviation in resuming open meetings after executive sessions.

Moreover, the bill establishes a batterer intervention program certification unit within the attorney general's office, granting it access to domestic violence case records while emphasizing confidentiality. It modifies public agencies' requirements for disclosing financial information, ensuring taxpayer data remains confidential unless mandated otherwise. The bill clarifies that subcommittees of public bodies must adhere to open meeting requirements and specifies that closed meetings will not be considered violations if they conclude within five minutes of the specified time. It also outlines the justifications for recessing to closed meetings and emphasizes that no binding actions can be taken during these recesses. The bill 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