HB 2593 — public records; time frame

Fifty-sixthHouse LegislatureEngrossed Governmentpublic Secondrecords; Regular Session H.B.

2593time PROPOSEDframe State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session HOUSE OFBILL REPRESENTATIVES2593 AMENDMENTSAN TOACT H.B.AMENDING SECTIONS 39-121.01 AND 39-171, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;

2593RELATING (Reference to printed bill) Page 1, line 42, strike "promptly" insert "promptly AND" Page 2, line 23, strike "promptly" insert "promptly" Line 34, after the period insert "A CIVIL PENALTY AWARDED PURSUANT TO THISPUBLIC SUBSECTIONRECORDS DOESREQUESTS. NOT EXCLUDE AN AWARD FOR ANY OTHER PENALTY AND COSTS, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES AND LEGAL COSTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 39-121.02." Page 3, line 22, after the period insert "A CIVIL PENALTY AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT EXCLUDE AN AWARD FOR ANY OTHER PENALTY AND COSTS, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES AND LEGAL COSTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 39-121.02." Amend title to conform TIMOTHY M.

DUNN(TEXT 2593DUNN.docxOF 01/30/2024BILL 04:25BEGINS PMON C:NEXT PAGE) - i - H.B.

SP2593 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.

Section 39-121.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

39-121.01.

Definitions;

maintenance of records;

requests for copies, printouts, photographs or mailing of public records;

examination by mail;

index;

in-person access;

denial of request;

civil penalty A.

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.

"Officer" means any person WHO IS elected or appointed to hold any elective or appointive office of any public body and any chief administrative officer, head, director, superintendent or chairman CHAIRPERSON of any public body.

2.

"Public body" means this state, any county, city, town, school district, political subdivision or tax-supported district in this state, any branch, department, board, bureau, commission, council or committee of the foregoing, and any public organization or agency, THAT IS supported in whole or in part by monies from this state or any political subdivision of this state, or expending THAT SPENDS monies provided by this state or any political subdivision of this state.

B.

All officers and public bodies shall maintain all records, including records as defined in section 41-151, THAT ARE reasonably necessary or appropriate to maintain an accurate knowledge of their official activities and of any of their activities that are supported by monies from this state or any political subdivision of this state.

C.

Each public body shall be IS responsible for the preservation, maintenance and care of PRESERVING, MAINTAINING AND CARING FOR that body's public records, and each officer shall be IS responsible for the preservation, maintenance and care of PRESERVING, MAINTAINING AND CARING FOR that officer's public records.

It shall be IS the duty of each such body to carefully secure, protect and preserve public records from deterioration, mutilation, loss or destruction, unless THE PUBLIC RECORD IS disposed of pursuant to sections 41-151.15 and 41-151.19.

D.

Subject to section 39-121.03:

1.

Any person may request to examine or be furnished copies, printouts or photographs of any public record during regular office hours or may request that the custodian mail a copy of any public record THAT IS not otherwise available on the public body's website to the requesting person.

The custodian may require any person requesting that the custodian mail a copy of any public record to pay in advance for any copying and postage charges.

The custodian of such records shall, promptly AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 39-171, furnish such copies, printouts or photographs and may charge a fee if the facilities are available, except that public records for purposes listed in section 39-122 or 39-127 shall be furnished without charge.

- 1 - H.B.

2593 2.

If requested, the custodian of the records of an agency shall also furnish an index of records or categories of records that have been withheld and the reasons the records or categories of records have been withheld from the requesting person.

The custodian shall not include in the index information that is expressly made privileged or confidential in statute or a court order.

This paragraph shall not be construed by an administrative tribunal or a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent or require an order compelling a public body other than an agency to furnish an index.

For the purposes of this paragraph, "agency" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1001 but does not include the department of public safety, the department of transportation motor vehicle division, the department of juvenile corrections and the state department of corrections.

3.

If the custodian of a public record does not have facilities for making copies, printouts or photographs of a public record that a person has a right to inspect, the person shall be granted access to the public record for the purpose of making copies, printouts or photographs.