Alabama Senate sends public records bill to Kay Ivey

The Alabama Senate Tuesday gave final approval to legislation requiring state agencies to acknowledge and respond to public records requests within set time frames. 

SB 270, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, sets two standards for two types of requests, based on time intensity and effort needed by the government agency.

The timelines in the House substitute include 10 days for acknowledgement for a standard request; 15 business days after acknowledging for a “substantive response” of denial or fulfillment, with possible extensions; 10 days for acknowledgment of a “time-intensive” request; and 15 days after acknowledgment of receipt that a request is “time-intensive.”

The bill passed with little discussion amid a number of concurrences Tuesday afternoon.

Alabama’s current public records law does not set a time frame for responding to public records. It takes an average of 192 days for agencies to complete records requests, according to MuckRock.

The Senate concurred in House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.