Bill would expand Ohio's public records law
January 24, 2005 9:09 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio
Government officials will be required to take classes on Ohio's public records laws and would face a 250 dollar a day penalty for noncompliance under a bill introduced today.
Representative Scott Oelslager (OHL'-slay-gur), a Canton Republican, worked with Attorney General Jim Petro and Frank Deaner, president of the Ohio Newspaper Association, to draft the legislation.
The bill requires that offices have written public records policies. It also bans officials from limiting the availability of records by asking the name of the person or group requesting information or the information's intended use.
A survey released in June found public employees followed the law only about half the time when asked to provide common records on an unconditional and timely basis as required by law.
(snip/)
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/oh/news1.shtml