HB 4163
FOIA Database
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to improve transparency in West Virginia by requiring public bodies to maintain a publicly accessible database of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It mandates that custodians protect the identity of individuals submitting requests and ensures updates to these databases. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for failing to redact a requester’s information and allows for legal action seeking damages if personal information is disclosed unlawfully.
Key provisions
- Requires public bodies to maintain a public database of FOIA requests.
- Protects the identity of individuals submitting FOIA requests.
- Mandates updates to public online FOIA databases.
- Establishes criminal penalties for failing to redact requester information.
- Allows requesters to seek damages for unlawful disclosure of personal information.
- Specifies procedures for responding to FOIA requests, including time limits and reasons for denial.
- Defines allowable fees for record reproduction.
- Requires the Secretary of State to maintain and update the FOIA database.
Who is affected
- Public bodies in West Virginia
- Individuals requesting public records
- The Secretary of State
- Citizens of West Virginia
- Government officials
Notable changes
- Creates a publicly accessible database for FOIA requests.
- Explicitly protects the identity of requesters.
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