Bill Text: IN HB1075 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Public access issues.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-02-01 - First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce and Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation [HB1075 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2010-HB1075-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 3-7; IC 5-14; IC 34-30-2.
Effective: July 1, 2010.
January 5, 2010, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
Reform.
Digest Continued
individual's parent or guardian. Requires
(rather than allows) a court to
review public records in camera to determine whether redaction of the
records violates the public records act. If a formal complaint is filed,
requires the public access counselor to review public records in camera
without redaction (excluding redacted information that is the work
product of an attorney) to determine whether the redaction of the
records violated the access to public records act. Provides that
unredacted documents that are in the possession of the public access
counselor for in camera inspection are confidential while in the
possession of the public access counselor. Creates an education fund
for a program administered by the public access counselor to train
public officials and educate the public on the rights of the public and
the responsibilities of public agencies under the public access laws.
Provides that a public agency has the discretion whether to disclose a
public record requested by an offender containing personal information
relating to a judge, law enforcement officer, or family member of a
judge or law enforcement officer.
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
and local administration.
(1) Lists of names and addresses of voters who were sent notices under the voter list maintenance program.
(2) Information concerning whether a voter has responded to a notice described by subdivision (1) as of the date the inspection of the record is made.
(b) The county voter registration office shall retain the records described by this section for at least two (2) years. Except for records concerning declinations to register to vote or that indicate the identity of a voter registration agency where a person registered, the county
voter registration office shall make the records available for public
inspection and photocopying at a reasonable cost as provided in
IC 5-14-3.
(c) In accordance with IC 5-14-3-3(g) IC 5-14-3-3(h) and
notwithstanding any other statute, a county voter registration office
shall, with regard to voter registration information concerning voters
of the county on a computerized system, act in accordance with a
nondiscriminatory uniform policy adopted by the county election
board. The policy must either permit a person to duplicate or obtain a
duplicate copy of a computer tape, computer disc, microfilm, or other
similar record system that contains this voter registration information
or not permit the person to duplicate or obtain a duplicate copy of the
information.
(d) A person who requests computerized voter registration
information under subsection (c) must provide a written statement that
the person will not:
(1) use the information to solicit merchandise, goods, services, or
subscriptions; or
(2) sell, loan, give away, or otherwise deliver the information
obtained by the request to any other person;
for a purpose other than political activities or political fundraising
activities.
(e) Publication of information obtained under subsection (d) in a
news broadcast or newspaper is not prohibited.
(b) Public notice shall be given by the governing body of a public agency
(1) The governing body of a public agency shall give public notice by posting a copy of the notice at the principal office of the public agency holding the meeting or, if no such office exists, at the building where the meeting is to be held.
(2) The governing body of a public agency shall give public notice by delivering notice to all news media which deliver
(A) Depositing the notice in the United States mail with postage prepaid.
(B) Transmitting the notice by electronic mail, if the public agency has the capacity to transmit electronic mail.
(C) Transmitting the notice by facsimile (fax).
(3) This subdivision applies only to the governing body of a public agency of a political subdivision described in section 2(a)(2), 2(a)(4), or 2(a)(5) of this chapter that has the capacity to send electronic mail. The governing body of a public agency shall give public notice by delivering notice to any person (other than news media) who delivers an annual written request for the notices not later than December 31 for the next succeeding calendar year to the governing body of the public agency. The governing body shall give notice by one (1) of the following methods, which shall be determined by the governing body:
(A) Transmitting the notice by electronic mail.
(B) Publishing the notice on the public agency's web site at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting, if the public agency has an Internet web site.
A court may not declare void any policy, decision, or final action under section 7 of this chapter based on a failure to give a person notice under subdivision (3) if the public agency made a good faith effort to comply. If a governing body comes into existence after
(c) Notice of regular meetings need be given only once each year,
except that an additional notice shall be given where the date, time, or
place of a regular meeting or meetings is changed. This subsection does
not apply to executive sessions.
(d) If a meeting is called to deal with an emergency involving actual
or threatened injury to person or property, or actual or threatened
disruption of the governmental activity under the jurisdiction of the
public agency by any event, then the time requirements of notice under
this section shall not apply, but:
(1) news media which have requested notice of meetings under
subsection (b) must be given the same notice as is given to the
members of the governing body; and
(2) the public must be notified by posting a copy of the notice
according to this section.
(e) This section shall not apply where notice by publication is
required by statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation.
(f) This section shall not apply to:
(1) the department of local government finance, the Indiana board
of tax review, or any other governing body which meets in
continuous session, except that this section applies to meetings of
these governing bodies which are required by or held pursuant to
statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation; or
(2) the executive of a county or the legislative body of a town if
the meetings are held solely to receive information or
recommendations in order to carry out administrative functions,
to carry out administrative functions, or confer with staff
members on matters relating to the internal management of the
unit. "Administrative functions" do not include the awarding of
contracts, the entering into contracts, or any other action creating
an obligation or otherwise binding a county or town.
(g) This section does not apply to the general assembly.
(h) Notice has not been given in accordance with this section if a
governing body of a public agency convenes a meeting at a time so
unreasonably departing from the time stated in its public notice that the
public is misled or substantially deprived of the opportunity to attend,
observe, and record the meeting.
(1) obtain a declaratory judgment;
(2) enjoin continuing, threatened, or future violations of this chapter; or
(3) declare void any policy, decision, or final action:
(A) taken at an executive session in violation of section 3(a) of this chapter;
(B) taken at any meeting of which notice is not given in accordance with section 5 of this chapter;
(C) that is based in whole or in part upon official action taken at any:
(i) executive session in violation of section 3(a) of this chapter;
(ii) meeting of which notice is not given in accordance with section 5 of this chapter; or
(iii) series of gatherings in violation of section 3.1 of this chapter; or
(D) taken at a meeting held in a location in violation of section 8 of this chapter.
The plaintiff need not allege or prove special damage different from that suffered by the public at large.
(b) Regardless of whether a formal complaint or an informal inquiry is pending before the public access counselor, any action to declare any policy, decision, or final action of a governing body void, or to enter an injunction which would invalidate any policy, decision, or final action of a governing body, based on violation of this chapter occurring before the action is commenced, shall be commenced:
(1) prior to the delivery of any warrants, notes, bonds, or obligations if the relief sought would have the effect, if granted, of invalidating the notes, bonds, or obligations; or
(2) with respect to any other subject matter, within thirty (30) days of either:
(A) the date of the act or failure to act complained of; or
(B) the date that the plaintiff knew or should have known that the act or failure to act complained of had occurred;
whichever is later. If the challenged policy, decision, or final action is recorded in the memoranda or minutes of a governing body, a plaintiff is considered to have known that the act or failure to act complained of had occurred not later than the date that the memoranda or minutes are first available for public inspection.
(c) If a court finds that a governing body of a public agency has violated this chapter, it may not find that the violation was cured by the governing body by only having taken final action at a meeting that complies with this chapter.
(d) In determining whether to declare any policy, decision, or final action void, a court shall consider the following factors among other
relevant factors:
(1) The extent to which the violation:
(A) affected the substance of the policy, decision, or final
action;
(B) denied or impaired access to any meetings that the public
had a right to observe and record; and
(C) prevented or impaired public knowledge or understanding
of the public's business.
(2) Whether voiding of the policy, decision, or final action is a
necessary prerequisite to a substantial reconsideration of the
subject matter.
(3) Whether the public interest will be served by voiding the
policy, decision, or final action by determining which of the
following factors outweighs the other:
(A) The remedial benefits gained by effectuating the public
policy of the state declared in section 1 of this chapter.
(B) The prejudice likely to accrue to the public if the policy,
decision, or final action is voided, including the extent to
which persons have relied upon the validity of the challenged
action and the effect declaring the challenged action void
would have on them.
(4) Whether the defendant acted in compliance with an informal
inquiry response or advisory opinion issued by the public access
counselor concerning the violation.
(e) If a court declares a policy, decision, or final action of a
governing body of a public agency void, the court may enjoin the
governing body from subsequently acting upon the subject matter of
the voided act until it has been given substantial reconsideration at a
meeting or meetings that comply with this chapter.
(f) In any action filed under this section, a court shall award
reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other reasonable expenses
of litigation to the prevailing party if:
(1) the plaintiff prevails; or
(2) the defendant prevails and the court finds that the action is
frivolous and vexatious.
The plaintiff is not eligible for the awarding of attorney's fees, court
costs, and other reasonable expenses if the plaintiff filed the action
without first seeking and receiving an informal inquiry response or
advisory opinion from the public access counselor, unless the plaintiff
can show the filing of the action was necessary to prevent a violation
of this chapter.
(g) A court may assess a civil penalty against the public agency
and the public officers and employees of the public agency under
section 7.5 of this chapter.
(g) (h) A court shall expedite the hearing of an action filed under
this section.
(1) an officer of a public agency; or
(2) employed in a management level position with a public agency.
(b) An individual who knowingly and intentionally fails to perform a duty imposed on the individual under this chapter by:
(1) failing to give proper notice of a regular meeting, special meeting, or executive session;
(2) taking final action outside a regular meeting or special meeting;
(3) participating in a secret ballot during a meeting;
(4) discussing in an executive session subjects not eligible for an executive session;
(5) failing to prepare a memorandum of a meeting required by section 4 of this chapter; or
(6) participating in at least one (1) gathering of a series of gatherings under section 3.1 of this chapter;
is subject to a civil penalty under this section.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (g), a court may impose a civil penalty against one (1) or more of the following:
(1) The individual who commits the violation.
(2) The public agency.
(d) The court may impose against each entity listed in subsection (c) the following civil penalties:
(1) Not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation.
(2) Not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation.
The penalty imposed under this section is in addition to any other civil or criminal penalty imposed.
(e) A court shall distribute monthly to the auditor of state any penalties collected under this section for deposit in the education fund established by IC 5-14-4-14.
(f) An individual is personally liable for a civil penalty imposed under this section. A civil penalty imposed against a public agency
shall be paid from the public agency's budget.
(g) If an officer of a public agency directs an individual who is
employed in a management level position to perform any action
under subsection (b)(1), the management level employee is not
subject to civil penalties under subsection (c).
(1) identify with reasonable particularity the record being requested; and
(2) be, at the discretion of the agency, in writing on or in a form provided by the agency.
No request may be denied because the person making the request refuses to state the purpose of the request, unless such condition is required by other applicable statute.
(b) A public agency may not deny or interfere with the exercise of the right stated in subsection (a). The public agency shall either:
(1) provide the requested copies to the person making the request; or
(2) allow the person to make copies:
(A) on the agency's equipment; or
(B) on the person's own equipment.
(c) A public agency shall allow for the inspection or copying or make the copies available to the person making the request within a reasonable time after the request is received by the agency.
(1) In accordance with a contract described in section 3.5 of this chapter, permit a person to inspect and copy through the use of enhanced access public records containing information owned by or entrusted to the public agency.
(2) Permit a governmental entity to use an electronic device to inspect and copy public records containing information owned by or entrusted to the public agency.
electronic retrieval if the medium requested is compatible with the
agency's data storage system. This subsection does not apply to an
electronic map.
(e) (f) A state agency may adopt a rule under IC 4-22-2, and a
political subdivision may enact an ordinance, prescribing the
conditions under which a person who receives information on disk or
tape under subsection (d) (e) may or may not use the information for
commercial purposes, including to sell, advertise, or solicit the
purchase of merchandise, goods, or services, or sell, loan, give away,
or otherwise deliver the information obtained by the request to any
other person for these purposes. Use of information received under
subsection (d) (e) in connection with the preparation or publication of
news, for nonprofit activities, or for academic research is not
prohibited. A person who uses information in a manner contrary to a
rule or ordinance adopted under this subsection may be prohibited by
the state agency or political subdivision from obtaining a copy or any
further data under subsection (d). (e).
(f) (g) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a public
agency is not required to create or provide copies of lists of names and
addresses (including electronic mail account addresses) unless the
public agency is required to publish such lists and disseminate them to
the public under a statute. However, if a public agency has created a
list of names and addresses (excluding electronic mail account
addresses) it must permit a person to inspect and make memoranda
abstracts from the list unless access to the list is prohibited by law. The
lists of names and addresses (including electronic mail account
addresses) described in subdivisions (1) through (3) may not be
disclosed by public agencies to any individual or entity for political
purposes and may not be used by any individual or entity for political
purposes. In addition, the lists of names and addresses (including
electronic mail account addresses) described in subdivisions (1)
through (3) may not be disclosed by public agencies to commercial
entities for commercial purposes and may not be used by commercial
entities for commercial purposes. The prohibition in this subsection
against the disclosure of lists for political or commercial purposes
applies to the following lists of names and addresses (including
electronic mail account addresses):
(1) A list of employees of a public agency.
(2) A list of persons attending conferences or meetings at a state
educational institution or of persons involved in programs or
activities conducted or supervised by the state educational
institution.
(3) A list of students who are enrolled in a public school corporation if the governing body of the public school corporation adopts a policy:
(A) with respect to disclosure related to a commercial purpose, prohibiting the disclosure of the list to commercial entities for commercial purposes;
(B) with respect to disclosure related to a commercial purpose, specifying the classes or categories of commercial entities to which the list may not be disclosed or by which the list may not be used for commercial purposes; or
(C) with respect to disclosure related to a political purpose, prohibiting the disclosure of the list to individuals and entities for political purposes.
A policy adopted under subdivision (3)(A) or (3)(B) must be uniform and may not discriminate among similarly situated commercial entities. For purposes of this subsection, "political purposes" means influencing the election of a candidate for federal, state, legislative, local, or school board office or the outcome of a public question or attempting to solicit a contribution to influence the election of a candidate for federal, state, legislative, local, or school board office or the outcome of a public question.
(1) for the storage or copying of public records; or
(2) that requires the public to obtain a license or pay copyright royalties for obtaining the right to inspect and copy the records unless otherwise provided by applicable statute;
if the contract, obligation, license, or copyright unreasonably impairs the right of the public to inspect and copy the agency's public records.
(1) Those declared confidential by state statute.
(2) Those declared confidential by rule adopted by a public agency under specific authority to classify public records as confidential granted to the public agency by statute.
(3) Those required to be kept confidential by federal law.
(4) Records containing trade secrets.
(5) Confidential financial information obtained, upon request, from a person. However, this does not include information that is filed with or received by a public agency pursuant to state statute.
(6) Information concerning research, including actual research documents, conducted under the auspices of a state educational institution, including information:
(A) concerning any negotiations made with respect to the research; and
(B) received from another party involved in the research.
(7) Grade transcripts and license examination scores obtained as part of a licensure process.
(8) Those declared confidential by or under rules adopted by the supreme court of Indiana.
(9) Patient medical records and charts created by a provider, unless the patient gives written consent under IC 16-39.
(10) Application information declared confidential by the board of the Indiana economic development corporation under IC 5-28-16.
(11) A photograph, a video recording, or an audio recording of an autopsy, except as provided in IC 36-2-14-10.
(12) A Social Security number contained in the records of a public agency.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (a), the following public records shall be excepted from section 3 of this chapter at the discretion of a public agency:
(1) Investigatory records of law enforcement agencies. However, certain law enforcement records must be made available for inspection and copying as provided in section 5 of this chapter.
(2) The work product of an attorney representing, pursuant to state employment or an appointment by a public agency:
(A) a public agency;
(B) the state; or
(C) an individual.
(3) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used in administering a licensing examination, examination for employment, or academic examination before the examination is given or if it is to be given again.
(4) Scores of tests if the person is identified by name and has not consented to the release of the person's scores.
(5) The following:
(A) Records relating to negotiations between the Indiana
economic development corporation, the ports of Indiana, the
Indiana state department of agriculture, the Indiana finance
authority, an economic development commission, a local
economic development organization (as defined in
IC 5-28-11-2(3)), or a governing body of a political
subdivision with industrial, research, or commercial prospects,
if the records are created while negotiations are in progress.
(B) Notwithstanding clause (A), the terms of the final offer of
public financial resources communicated by the Indiana
economic development corporation, the ports of Indiana, the
Indiana finance authority, an economic development
commission, or a governing body of a political subdivision to
an industrial, a research, or a commercial prospect shall be
available for inspection and copying under section 3 of this
chapter after negotiations with that prospect have terminated.
(C) When disclosing a final offer under clause (B), the Indiana
economic development corporation shall certify that the
information being disclosed accurately and completely
represents the terms of the final offer.
(6) Records that are intra-agency or interagency advisory or
deliberative material, including material developed by a private
contractor under a contract with a public agency, that are
expressions of opinion or are of a speculative nature, and that are
communicated for the purpose of decision making.
(7) Diaries, journals, or other personal notes serving as the
functional equivalent of a diary or journal.
(8) Personnel files of public employees and files of applicants for
public employment, except for:
(A) the name, compensation, job title, business address,
business telephone number, job description, education and
training background, previous work experience, or dates of
first and last employment of present or former officers or
employees of the agency;
(B) information relating to the status of any formal charges
against the employee; and
(C) the factual basis for a disciplinary action in which final
action has been taken and that resulted in the employee being
suspended, demoted, or discharged.
However, all personnel file information shall be made available
to the affected employee or the employee's representative. This
subdivision does not apply to disclosure of personnel information
generally on all employees or for groups of employees without the
request being particularized by employee name.
(9) Minutes or records of hospital medical staff meetings.
(10) Administrative or technical information that would
jeopardize a record keeping or security system.
(11) Computer programs, computer codes, computer filing
systems, and other software that are owned by the public agency
or entrusted to it and portions of electronic maps entrusted to a
public agency by a utility.
(12) Records specifically prepared for discussion or developed
during discussion in an executive session under IC 5-14-1.5-6.1.
However, this subdivision does not apply to that information
required to be available for inspection and copying under
subdivision (8).
(13) The work product of the legislative services agency under
personnel rules approved by the legislative council.
(14) The work product of individual members and the partisan
staffs of the general assembly.
(15) The identity of a donor of a gift made to a public agency if:
(A) the donor requires nondisclosure of the donor's identity as
a condition of making the gift; or
(B) after the gift is made, the donor or a member of the donor's
family requests nondisclosure.
(16) Library or archival records:
(A) which can be used to identify any library patron; or
(B) deposited with or acquired by a library upon a condition
that the records be disclosed only:
(i) to qualified researchers;
(ii) after the passing of a period of years that is specified in
the documents under which the deposit or acquisition is
made; or
(iii) after the death of persons specified at the time of the
acquisition or deposit.
However, nothing in this subdivision shall limit or affect contracts
entered into by the Indiana state library pursuant to IC 4-1-6-8.
(17) The identity of any person who contacts the bureau of motor
vehicles concerning the ability of a driver to operate a motor
vehicle safely and the medical records and evaluations made by
the bureau of motor vehicles staff or members of the driver
licensing medical advisory board regarding the ability of a driver
to operate a motor vehicle safely. However, upon written request
to the commissioner of the bureau of motor vehicles, the driver
must be given copies of the driver's medical records and
evaluations.
(18) School safety and security measures, plans, and systems,
including emergency preparedness plans developed under 511
IAC 6.1-2-2.5.
(19) A record or a part of a record, the public disclosure of which
would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening public safety
by exposing a vulnerability to terrorist attack. A record described
under this subdivision includes:
(A) a record assembled, prepared, or maintained to prevent,
mitigate, or respond to an act of terrorism under IC 35-47-12-1
or an act of agricultural terrorism under IC 35-47-12-2;
(B) vulnerability assessments;
(C) risk planning documents;
(D) needs assessments;
(E) threat assessments;
(F) intelligence assessments;
(G) domestic preparedness strategies;
(H) the location of community drinking water wells and
surface water intakes;
(I) the emergency contact information of emergency
responders and volunteers;
(J) infrastructure records that disclose the configuration of
critical systems such as communication, electrical, ventilation,
water, and wastewater systems; and
(K) detailed drawings or specifications of structural elements,
floor plans, and operating, utility, or security systems, whether
in paper or electronic form, of any building or facility located
on an airport (as defined in IC 8-21-1-1) that is owned,
occupied, leased, or maintained by a public agency. A record
described in this clause may not be released for public
inspection by any public agency without the prior approval of
the public agency that owns, occupies, leases, or maintains the
airport. The public agency that owns, occupies, leases, or
maintains the airport:
(i) is responsible for determining whether the public
disclosure of a record or a part of a record has a reasonable
likelihood of threatening public safety by exposing a
vulnerability to terrorist attack; and
(ii) must identify a record described under item (i) and
clearly mark the record as "confidential and not subject to
public disclosure under IC 5-14-3-4(b)(19)(J) without
approval of (insert name of submitting public agency)".
This subdivision does not apply to a record or portion of a record pertaining to a location or structure owned or protected by a public agency in the event that an act of terrorism under IC 35-47-12-1 or an act of agricultural terrorism under IC 35-47-12-2 has occurred at that location or structure, unless release of the record or portion of the record would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening public safety by exposing a vulnerability of other locations or structures to terrorist attack.
(20) The following personal information concerning a customer of a municipally owned utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-1):
(A) Telephone number.
(B) Address.
(C) Social Security number.
(21) The following personal information about a complainant contained in records of a law enforcement agency:
(A) Telephone number.
(B) The complainant's address. However, if the complainant's address is the location of the suspected crime, infraction, accident, or complaint reported, the address shall be made available for public inspection and copying.
(22) Notwithstanding subdivision (8)(A), the name, compensation, job title, business address, business telephone number, job description, education and training background, previous work experience, or dates of first employment of a law enforcement officer who is operating in an undercover capacity.
(23) Records requested by an offender that:
(A) contain personal information relating to:
(i) a correctional officer (as defined in IC 5-10-10-1.5);
(ii) a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 35-41-1-17);
(iii) a judge (as defined in IC 33-38-12-3);
(B) concern or could affect the security of a jail or correctional facility.
(24) Information concerning an individual less than eighteen (18) years of age who participates in a conference, meeting, program, or activity conducted or supervised by a state educational institution. The information includes the following regarding the individual or the individual's parent
or guardian:
(A) Name.
(B) Address.
(C) Telephone number.
(D) Electronic mail account address.
(c) Nothing contained in subsection (b) shall limit or affect the right
of a person to inspect and copy a public record required or directed to
be made by any statute or by any rule of a public agency.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a public record that is classified
as confidential, other than a record concerning an adoption, shall be
made available for inspection and copying seventy-five (75) years after
the creation of that record.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (d) and section 7 of this chapter:
(1) public records subject to IC 5-15 may be destroyed only in
accordance with record retention schedules under IC 5-15; or
(2) public records not subject to IC 5-15 may be destroyed in the
ordinary course of business.
(1) the person designated by the public agency as being responsible for public records release decisions refuses to permit inspection and copying of a public record when a request has been made; or
(2) twenty-four (24) hours elapse after any employee of the public agency refuses to permit inspection and copying of a public record when a request has been made;
whichever occurs first.
(b) If a person requests by mail or by facsimile a copy or copies of a public record, a denial of disclosure does not occur until seven (7) days have elapsed from the date the public agency receives the request.
(c) If a request is made orally, either in person or by telephone, a public agency may deny the request orally. However, if a request initially is made in writing, by facsimile, or through enhanced access, or if an oral request that has been denied is renewed in writing or by facsimile, a public agency may deny the request if:
(1) the denial is in writing or by facsimile; and
(2) the denial includes:
(A) a statement of the specific exemption or exemptions
authorizing the withholding of all or part of the public record;
and
(B) the name and the title or position of the person responsible
for the denial.
(d) This subsection applies to a board, a commission, a department,
a division, a bureau, a committee, an agency, an office, an
instrumentality, or an authority, by whatever name designated,
exercising any part of the executive, administrative, judicial, or
legislative power of the state. If an agency receives a request to inspect
or copy a record that the agency considers to be excepted from
disclosure under section 4(b)(19) of this chapter, the agency may
consult with the counterterrorism and security council established by
IC 10-19-8-1. If an agency denies the disclosure of a record or a part of
a record under section 4(b)(19) of this chapter, the agency or the
counterterrorism and security council shall provide a general
description of the record being withheld and of how disclosure of the
record would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening the public
safety.
(e) A person who has been denied the right to inspect or copy a
public record by a public agency may file an action in the circuit or
superior court of the county in which the denial occurred to compel the
public agency to permit the person to inspect and copy the public
record. Whenever an action is filed under this subsection, the public
agency must notify each person who supplied any part of the public
record at issue:
(1) that a request for release of the public record has been denied;
and
(2) whether the denial was in compliance with an informal inquiry
response or advisory opinion of the public access counselor.
Such persons are entitled to intervene in any litigation that results from
the denial. The person who has been denied the right to inspect or copy
need not allege or prove any special damage different from that
suffered by the public at large.
(f) The court shall determine the matter de novo, with the burden of
proof on the public agency to sustain its denial. If the issue in de novo
review under this section is whether a public agency properly denied
access to a public record because the record is exempted under section
4(a) of this chapter, the public agency meets its burden of proof under
this subsection by establishing the content of the record with adequate
specificity and not by relying on a conclusory statement or affidavit.
(g) If the issue in a de novo review under this section is whether a
public agency properly denied access to a public record because the
record is exempted under section 4(b) of this chapter:
(1) the public agency meets its burden of proof under this
subsection by:
(A) proving that the record falls within any one (1) of the
categories of exempted records under section 4(b) of this
chapter; and
(B) establishing the content of the record with adequate
specificity and not by relying on a conclusory statement or
affidavit; and
(2) a person requesting access to a public record meets the
person's burden of proof under this subsection by proving that the
denial of access is arbitrary or capricious.
(h) The court may review the public record in camera to determine
whether any part of it may be withheld under this chapter. However,
if the complaint alleges that a public agency denied disclosure of a
public record by redacting information in the public record, the
court shall conduct an in camera inspection of the public record
without the information redacted.
(i) In any action filed under this section, a court shall award
reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other reasonable expenses
of litigation to the prevailing party if:
(1) the plaintiff substantially prevails; or
(2) the defendant substantially prevails and the court finds the
action was frivolous or vexatious.
The plaintiff is not eligible for the awarding of attorney's fees, court
costs, and other reasonable expenses if the plaintiff filed the action
without first seeking and receiving an informal inquiry response or
advisory opinion from the public access counselor, unless the plaintiff
can show the filing of the action was necessary because the denial of
access to a public record under this chapter would prevent the plaintiff
from presenting that public record to a public agency preparing to act
on a matter of relevance to the public record whose disclosure was
denied.
(j) A court may assess a civil penalty against the public officers
and employees of a public agency under section 9.5 of this chapter.
(j) (k) A court shall expedite the hearing of an action filed under this
section.
(1) an officer of a public agency; or
(2) employed in a management level position with a public agency.
(b) An individual who knowingly and intentionally does any of the following is subject to a civil penalty under subsection (c):
(1) Denies or interferes with a person's request for inspection or copying of a public record if:
(A) the person's request meets the requirements of this chapter; and
(B) the record is subject to disclosure by law.
(2) Charges a copying fee that exceeds the amount permitted by this chapter.
(c) A court may impose a civil penalty for a violation under subsection (b) against one (1) or more of the following:
(1) The individual who committed the violation.
(2) The public agency.
(d) The court may impose against each entity listed in subsection (c) the following civil penalties:
(1) Not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation.
(2) Not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation.
The penalty imposed under this section is in addition to any other civil or criminal penalty imposed.
(e) A court shall distribute monthly to the auditor of state any penalties collected under this section for deposit in the education fund established by IC 5-14-4-14.
(f) An individual is personally liable for a civil penalty imposed under this section. A civil penalty imposed against a public agency shall be paid from the public agency's budget.
(g) If an officer of a public agency directs an individual who is employed in a management level position to perform any action under subsection (b)(1), the management level employee is not subject to civil penalties under subsection (c).
(b) A public employee may be disciplined in accordance with the personnel policies of the agency by which the employee is employed if the employee intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly discloses or fails
to protect information classified as confidential by state statute.
(c) A public employee, a public official, or an employee or officer
of a contractor or subcontractor of a public agency who unintentionally
and unknowingly discloses confidential or erroneous information in
response to a request under IC 5-14-3-3(d) IC 5-14-3-3(e) or who
discloses confidential information in reliance on an advisory opinion
by the public access counselor is immune from liability for such a
disclosure.
(d) This section does not apply to any provision incorporated into
state law from a federal statute.
(b) The fund consists of the following:
(1) Civil penalties collected under IC 5-14-1.5-7.5 and IC 5-14-3-9.5.
(2) Money appropriated by the general assembly.
(3) Grants, gifts, contributions, and money received from any other source.
(c) The treasurer of state shall administer the fund. The following may be paid from money in the fund:
(1) Expenses of administering the fund.
(2) Nonrecurring administrative expenses incurred to carry out the purposes of this section.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
(e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
(1) the complaint is filed; or
(2) an in camera inspection is completed under section 10.5 of this chapter.
(1) the complaint is filed; or
(2) an in camera inspection is completed under section 10.5 of this chapter.
(b) The counselor shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing criteria for complaints that have priority.
(b) Both parties to the dispute shall be notified of the in camera inspection. However, neither the parties nor their representatives may be present during the inspection.
(c) The counselor shall provide a written notice to the public agency that includes the following:
(1) A statement of the date, time, place, and nature of the inspection.
(2) The documents to be inspected.
(3) The manner in which the documents must be presented to the counselor for inspection.
(4) Any other information the counselor considers relevant.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), the public agency shall:
(1) deliver the documents specified under subsection (c)(2) to the counselor for inspection in a sealed envelope; and
(2) deliver to the counselor and the complainant:
(A) a certification signed by the custodian of the documents stipulating that the copies of the documents delivered to the counselor are true and complete copies of the documents in question with no alterations or redactions; and
(B) an in camera inspection index that:
(i) gives the title or name of each document, or any part of the document, claimed to be exempt from disclosure;
(ii) provides a description of each document that is general enough to explain the exemptions without compromising the alleged reason for the exemption from disclosure;
(iii) lists the reasons that each document, or any part of the document, is alleged to be exempt from disclosure;
and
(iv) fully explains why the alleged reason for exemption
from disclosure applies to each document.
(e) If the redacted information in a public record is the work
product of an attorney (as defined in IC 5-14-3-2(q)), the counselor
may not inspect the public record with the redaction removed. If
the notice provided by the counselor under subsection (c) requests
disclosure of redacted information that is the work product of an
attorney, the public agency shall do the following:
(1) Deliver the documents specified under subsection (c)(2) to
the counselor, with the information redacted.
(2) Deliver an index to the counselor and the complainant
that:
(A) gives the title or name of each document, or any part
of the document, claimed to be exempt from disclosure on
the basis that the document or any part of the document is
the work product of an attorney;
(B) provides a description of each document that is general
enough to explain the exemption without compromising the
alleged reason for the exemption from disclosure;
(C) lists the reasons that each document, or any part of the
document, is alleged to be exempt from disclosure; and
(D) fully explains why the alleged reason for exemption
from disclosure applies to each document.
(f) The counselor or anyone else authorized to inspect the
documents may not make copies of the documents or take notes
making reference to specific information contained in the
documents. Upon completion of an in camera inspection, the
counselor shall seal the documents and return them to the
custodian of the documents. The sealed documents are confidential
while in the possession of the counselor.
(g) An advisory opinion issued on the complaint may not discuss
the specific contents of the documents and may refer only to the
assigned reference number or the general descriptions of the
documents listed in the in camera inspection index.
(h) This section does not prohibit a court from conducting an in
camera inspection of a public record under IC 5-14-3-9(h) without
the information redacted that is the work product of an attorney
(as defined in IC 5-14-3-2(q)).
a public employee who, acting on the orders of a superior, fails to
provide proper notice of a public meeting or executive session).