House Bill 1523, allowing search fees for public records requests, passed out of the Indiana State House of Representatives on Thursday the 16th.
The bill allows a state or local government agency (agency) to charge a maximum hourly fee for any records search that exceeds two hours. HB 1523 prohibits, with certain exceptions, an agency from charging a fee for providing a public record by electronic mail. It also provides that if a public record is in an electronic format, an agency (excluding the office of the county recorder) shall provide an electronic copy or a paper copy, at the option of the person making the request for a public record.
This legislation was authored by Kathy Richardson (R-Noblesville).
Representatives GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), Kevin Mahan (R-Hartford City), and Karen Engleman (R-Corydon) have joined the bill as co-authors.
HB 1523 will now be heard by the Senate, and is sponsored by Senators Roderick Bray (R-Martinsville), Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), and Tim Lanane (D-Anderson).
The Hoosier State Press Association supports HB 1523.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
