BILL SUMMARY DETAILS

Florida League of Cities

Public Records Requests (Monitor) – Failed

SB 1494 (Pizzo) provides that a public agency that has custody of a public record may not charge a fee once an agency has received a request to produce records. The bill provides that any person who violates this chapter (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) may be punished by a $5,000 fine and if the custodian knowingly deters a public records request, they commit a first degree misdemeanor. Lastly, the bill requires courts to set priority for public records cases over other pending hearings. (Wagoner)