Bill > A04633

This bill amends the Public Officers Law and the Penal Law to address the failure to produce records in response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. The key provisions are: 1. It defines "state agency" and "head of agency" for the purposes of FOIL requests. 2. It requires state agencies to respond to FOIL requests within 30 days and make the requested records available within 90 days. The head of the agency must review the request, direct the agency to make a determination, and ensure the records are provided. 3. It creates a new criminal offense, "criminal failure to comply with the freedom of information law," for the governor, their senior staff, or the head of a state agency who intentionally fails to fulfill their duties related to FOIL requests. This is a class B misdemeanor, and public funds cannot be used to pay any fines or legal fees related to this offense.