Bill Text: MI HB5422 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Civil rights: public records; certain FOIA provisions relating to appeals that may be taken for alleged violations of FOIA; modify. Amends secs. 10 & 10a of 1976 PA 442 (MCL 15.240 & 15.240a). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5426'24, HB 5425'24, HB 5424'24, HB 5423'24
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 15-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 02/7/2024 [HB5422 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-HB5422-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 5422
A bill to amend 1976 PA 442, entitled
"Freedom of information act,"
by amending sections 10 and 10a (MCL 15.240 and 15.240a), section 10 as amended and section 10a as added by 2014 PA 563.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 10. (1) If a public body makes a final determination to deny all or a portion of a request, the requesting person requestor may do 1 any of the following: at his or her option:
(a) Submit to the head of the public body a written appeal that specifically states the word "appeal" and identifies the reason or reasons for reversal of the denial.
(b) Commence a civil action in the circuit court, or if the decision of a state public body is at issue, the court of claims, to compel the public body's disclosure of the public records within 180 days after a the public body's final determination to deny a request.
(c) Submit to the commission a written appeal that specifically states the word "appeal" and identifies the reason or reasons for reversal of the denial.
(2) Within 10 business days after receiving a written appeal pursuant to subsection (1)(a), the head of a public body shall do 1 of the following:
(a) Reverse the disclosure denial.
(b) Issue a written notice to the requesting person requestor upholding the disclosure denial.
(c) Reverse the disclosure denial in part and issue a written notice to the requesting person requestor upholding the disclosure denial in part.
(d) Under unusual circumstances, issue a notice extending for not more than 10 business days the period during which the head of the public body shall respond to the written appeal. The head of a public body shall not issue more than 1 notice of extension for a particular written appeal.
(3) A board or commission that is the head of a public body is not considered to have received a written appeal under subsection (2) until the first regularly scheduled meeting of that board or commission following submission of the written appeal under subsection (1)(a). If the head of the public body fails to respond to a written appeal pursuant to subsection (2), or if the head of the public body upholds all or a portion of the disclosure denial that is the subject of the written appeal, the requesting person requestor may seek judicial review of the nondisclosure by commencing a civil action under subsection (1)(b).
(4) In an action commenced under subsection (1)(b), a court that determines a public record or portion of a public record is not exempt from disclosure shall order the public body to cease withholding or to produce all or a portion of a public record wrongfully withheld, regardless of the location of the public record. Venue for an action against a local public body is proper in the circuit court for the county in which the public record or an office of the public body is located. has venue over the action. The court shall determine the matter de novo and the burden is on the public body to sustain its denial. In defending an action commenced under subsection (1)(b), a public body is limited to the reasons given in its response denying the request. If the public body failed to timely respond to the request, it waives the right to assert any exemption in section 13 as a basis to withhold all or any portion of a public record. The court, on its own motion, may view the public record in controversy in private before reaching a decision. Failure to comply with an order of the court may be punished as contempt of court. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a court may permit the redaction of material pursuant to an exemption not asserted in a public body's initial response if the court determines that the release of the exempted material would disclose privileged material, Social Security numbers, or medical information; would violate the law; or would result in a disclosure that is substantially outweighed by a public interest in nondisclosure.
(5) An action commenced under this section and an appeal from an action commenced under this section shall must be assigned for hearing and trial or for argument at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.
(6) If a person asserting the right to inspect, copy, or receive a copy of all or a portion of a public record prevails, in whole or in part, in an action commenced under this section, the court or commission shall award reasonable attorneys' attorney fees, costs, and disbursements. If the person or public body prevails in part, the court may, in its discretion, award all or an appropriate portion of reasonable attorneys' fees, costs, and disbursements. The award shall be assessed against the public body liable for damages under subsection (7).
(7) If the court determines in an action commenced under this section that the public body has arbitrarily and capriciously violated this act by refusal or delay in disclosing or providing copies of a public record, the court shall order the public body to pay a civil fine of $1,000.00, which shall be deposited into the general fund of the state treasury. The court shall award, in addition to any actual or compensatory damages, punitive damages in the amount of $1,000.00 to the person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record. The damages shall not be assessed against an individual, but shall be assessed against the next succeeding public body that is not an individual and that kept or maintained the public record as part of its public function.If an attorney appeals a request filed by that attorney to a court or the commission and prevails as provided in subsection (6), that attorney is entitled to whatever fees and costs would be awarded if the attorney had represented a client in that appeal, including the attorney fees that would have been awarded for that representation.
Sec. 10a. (1) If a public body requires a fee that exceeds the amount permitted under its publicly available procedures and guidelines or section 4, the requesting person requestor may do any of the following:
(a) If the public body provides for fee appeals to the head of the public body in its publicly available procedures and guidelines, submit to the head of the public body a written appeal for a fee reduction that specifically states the word "appeal" and identifies how the required fee exceeds the amount permitted under the public body's available procedures and guidelines or section 4.
(b) Commence a civil action in the circuit court, or if the decision of a state public body is at issue, in the court of claims, for a fee reduction. The action must be filed within 45 days after receiving the notice of the required fee or a determination of an appeal to the head of a public body. If a civil action is commenced against the public body under this subdivision, the public body is not obligated to complete the processing of the written request for the public record at issue until the court resolves the fee dispute. An action shall must not be filed under this subdivision unless 1 of the following applies:
(i) The public body does not provide for appeals under subdivision (a).
(ii) The head of the public body failed to respond to a written appeal as required under subsection (2).
(iii) The head of the public body issued a determination to a written appeal as required under subsection (2).
(c) Submit to the commission a written appeal for a fee reduction that specifically states the word "appeal" and identifies how the required fee exceeds the amount permitted under the public body's available procedures and guidelines or section 4.
(2) Within 10 business days after receiving a written appeal under subsection (1)(a), the head of a public body shall do 1 of the following:
(a) Waive the fee.
(b) Reduce the fee and issue a written determination to the requesting person requestor indicating the specific basis under section 4 that supports the remaining fee. The determination shall must include a certification from the head of the public body that the statements in the determination are accurate and that the reduced fee amount complies with its publicly available procedures and guidelines and section 4.
(c) Uphold the fee and issue a written determination to the requesting person requestor indicating the specific basis under section 4 that supports the required fee. The determination shall must include a certification from the head of the public body that the statements in the determination are accurate and that the fee amount complies with the public body's publicly available procedures and guidelines and section 4.
(d) Issue a notice extending for not more than 10 business days the period during which the head of the public body must respond to the written appeal. The notice of extension shall include a detailed reason or reasons why the extension is necessary. The head of a public body shall not issue more than 1 notice of extension for a particular written appeal.
(3) A board or commission that is the head of a public body is not considered to have received a written appeal under subsection (2) until the first regularly scheduled meeting of that board or commission following submission of the written appeal under subsection (1)(a).
(4) In an action commenced under subsection (1)(b), a court that determines the public body required a fee that exceeds the amount permitted under its publicly available procedures and guidelines or section 4 shall reduce the fee to a permissible amount. Venue for an action against a local public body is proper in the circuit court for the county in which the public record or an office of the public body is located. The court shall determine the matter de novo, and the burden is on the public body to establish that the required fee complies with its publicly available procedures and guidelines and section 4. Failure to comply with an order of the court may be punished as contempt of court.
(5) An action commenced under this section and an appeal from an action commenced under this section shall must be assigned for hearing and trial or for argument at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.
(6) If the requesting person requestor prevails in an action commenced under this section by receiving a reduction of 50% 25% or more of the total fee, the court may, in its discretion, shall award all or an appropriate portion of reasonable attorneys' attorney fees, costs, and disbursements. The award shall be assessed against the public body liable for damages under subsection (7).
(7) If the court determines in an action commenced under this section that the public body has arbitrarily and capriciously violated this act by charging an excessive fee, the court shall order the public body to pay a civil fine of $500.00, which shall be deposited in the general fund of the state treasury. The court may also award, in addition to any actual or compensatory damages, punitive damages in the amount of $500.00 to the person seeking the fee reduction. The fine and any damages shall not be assessed against an individual, but shall be assessed against the next succeeding public body that is not an individual and that kept or maintained the public record as part of its public function.If an attorney appeals a request filed by that attorney to a court or the commission and prevails as provided in subsection (6), that attorney is entitled to whatever fees and costs would be awarded if the attorney had represented a client in that appeal, including the attorney fees that would have been awarded for that representation.
(8) As used in this section, "fee" means the total fee or any component of the total fee calculated under section 4, including any deposit.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 102nd Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5427 (request no. 04892'23).
(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5426 (request no. 05111'23).
(c) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5425 (request no. 05113'23).
(d) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5424 (request no. 05114'23).
(e) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5423 (request no. 05115'23).
