This bill amends the Freedom of Information Act provisions in West Virginia's public records law, specifically focusing on the confidentiality of individuals submitting FOIA requests. It mandates that custodians of public records maintain a publicly accessible database while ensuring that the names and personally identifiable information of requesters are kept confidential, with specific exceptions for government officials, cases of public interest, or when consent is given by the requester. The bill also requires that any publicly accessible FOIA logs or databases do not include the requester's identity and that names are redacted when previous requests are disclosed.

Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the Secretary of State to update all online FOIA databases within 90 days of the law's enactment and introduces penalties for failing to protect requesters' identities. Affected individuals may seek injunctive relief and damages of up to $5,000 for unlawful disclosures of their personal information. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency in public records while safeguarding the privacy of those who seek information through FOIA requests.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 29B-1-3