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.
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Xi Gives Important Instructions on Party Building and Organizational Work
Yangtze town has a foot in the past and an eye on the future
Xiconomics: China's Green Development Philosophy Is Contributing to Global Sustainable Growth
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
The young and old in Suzhou enjoyed the Double Ninth Festival together in autumn outings
Xi Encourages Friendly Personage to Push for Stronger China
Xi, Ramaphosa Hold Phone Talks over Bilateral Ties, Ukraine Crisis
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Roundup: Overseas Experts Hail Xi's Notion of Building Modern Chinese Civilization