House Bill No. 2163 establishes the Public Access Counselor Unit within the Office of the Attorney General to oversee and facilitate the review of denied open records requests. Individuals whose requests for public records are denied, or who believe their requests were improperly classified as commercial, can file for a review within 30 days. The bill outlines the procedures for filing such requests, mandates the Public Access Counselor to notify the relevant public body, and requires timely responses from them. It also allows the Attorney General to issue advisory opinions regarding compliance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act and provides immunity to public bodies that disclose records in accordance with the Attorney General's advice.

Additionally, the bill amends the duties of the Attorney General to include investigating and prosecuting civil or criminal actions related to violations of the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. It specifies that the Attorney General is not required to produce certain records related to the advisory process and allows for the denial of future review requests if a requester submits multiple frivolous requests. The bill is designed to enhance transparency and accountability in public records management while ensuring that the Attorney General has the necessary authority to enforce compliance with open records laws. An emergency clause is included, allowing the act to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 74-18b
Floor (House): 74-18b
Floor (Senate): 74-18b
Engrossed: 74-18b
Enrolled (final version): 74-18b