The Grand Jury Privacy and Protection Act aims to enhance the privacy of grand jurors by amending section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The bill introduces new legal language that exempts the names and addresses of grand jurors, as well as the signature of a grand jury foreperson, from disclosure under Public Records Law. This amendment is designed to safeguard the identities and personal information of individuals involved in the grand jury process, promoting their safety and privacy. Additionally, the bill clarifies that certain records will become public after a retention period of seventy-five years or three years, with exceptions for records protected by attorney-client privilege or other specific laws.

The legislation also includes provisions for designated public service workers, such as peace officers and emergency service telecommunicators, by defining what constitutes their residential and familial information. It establishes guidelines for public records requests, particularly concerning video records from law enforcement, and allows agencies to charge for the costs associated with preparing these records. The bill emphasizes transparency while protecting sensitive information, mandates training for elected officials on public records obligations, and requires public offices to adopt compliant policies. Furthermore, it introduces a process for individuals to seek statutory damages for non-compliance with records requests and sets conditions for awarding attorney's fees in related legal actions. Overall, the act seeks to balance public access to records with the privacy rights of individuals in sensitive positions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 149.43