Bill > S05801

This bill amends the Public Officers Law to provide for the mandatory award of reasonable attorneys' fees to a person who successfully brings a proceeding under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) or the Open Meetings Law, to be paid by the agency or public body involved. Previously, the award of attorneys' fees was at the court's discretion, but this bill makes it mandatory for the successful petitioner. The bill also removes the requirement that the court find the agency or public body had no reasonable basis for denying access or holding a closed session in order to award attorneys' fees.