SB57 Summary - Alabama Public Records Act

• Repeals existing public records law (Sections 36-12-40 and 36-12-41) and establishes a comprehensive new Alabama Public Records Act governing citizen access to governmental records.

• Requires all governmental bodies to designate a custodian of records and respond to public records requests within 14 calendar days, with detailed procedures for denials, partial releases, and extensions.

• Establishes a Public Access Counselor position within the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to handle administrative appeals of record denials, issue advisory opinions, and grant extension requests.

• Sets specific fees for record copies (maximum $0.20 per page for standard black-and-white copies) and creates administrative and judicial remedies, including civil penalties of $75-$3,500 per violation for non-compliance.

• Provides broad exemptions from disclosure for records protected by federal law, personal privacy information, confidential business information, law enforcement investigative reports, and scholastic records, while requiring narrow construction of exemptions to maximize public access.