MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate on Thursday advanced legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s weak open records law by setting deadlines to respond to requests to view public documents.
Senators voted 29-0 for the legislation. The bill now moves to the House.
“Right now, under current law, it’s the wild west. We don’t have timelines for governments or universities to respond in due time,” Republican Sen. Arthur Orr, the bill’s sponsor, said.
Alabama’s public records law says any citizen has the right to inspect and take copies of public writings, except for those exempted by law. However, it does not provide deadlines for responses.
The legislation would require a public records officer to acknowledge the receipt of a simple request within 10 days and then “provide a substantive response” to the request within 15 additional business days. Public entities would be given more time to respond to requests that would require more than eight hours of work to fulfill.
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Why Modi and BJP face strong resistance in south India
Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort
Mobile home explodes in Minnesota, killing 2 people, sheriff's office says
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
Badosa shows signs of her old form in a win over Andreeva at the Italian Open
Police investigating shooting outside Drake's mansion that left security guard wounded
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
Deadline for businesses to apply for their share of massive credit card company settlement looms
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Former head of one of China's top state