The bill amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Michigan, focusing on enhancing public access to government information while introducing new definitions related to cybersecurity. It clarifies that all individuals, except those incarcerated, are entitled to access public records and modifies the definition of "public body" to exclude the judiciary. Incarcerated individuals can request public records under specific conditions, such as referencing their case or that of their minor child. The bill also requires written requests to include complete contact information and introduces a subscription service for future public records, while mandating responses to requests within five business days.

Additionally, the bill introduces a definition for "law enforcement records management system," facilitating information sharing among public bodies to improve law enforcement collaboration. It allows individuals to specify that responses to requests be emailed instead of electronically mailed, provided the public body has the necessary technology. Furthermore, it mandates that the Department of Corrections or local law enforcement must respond to requests from incarcerated individuals within 30 days, with certain exceptions for properly denied requests. Overall, these amendments aim to improve transparency, access to public records, and address the complexities of cybersecurity and the rights of incarcerated individuals.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 15.231