Bill > LD152

This bill amends the Freedom of Access Act to establish a specific 30-day time frame for government agencies to respond to public records requests, replacing the previous vague standard of "reasonable time". Under the proposed changes, agencies must now acknowledge receipt of a records request within 5 working days and provide a good faith estimate of when they will fulfill the request. While agencies can still request clarification about the specific records sought, they are now legally required to fully respond within 30 days after the date the request was made. The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability by creating a clear, consistent timeline for public access to government records, ensuring that citizens can more predictably obtain information about government activities. This amendment applies to all public records requests across state agencies, with some potential exceptions as provided by other statutes.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=152&snum=132