SB 1221 Summary

• Establishes that Freedom of Information Commission must decide appeals within one year after filing, with privileged appeals heard within 30 days and decided within 60 days of hearing.

• Increases maximum civil penalties for Freedom of Information Act violations from $1,000 to $5,000 against custodians or officials, while maintaining $20 minimum penalty.

• Requires preliminary hearings within 72 hours for appeals involving executive session decisions or practices, with final commission decision within 5 days if probable cause is found.

• Allows commission to impose penalties of up to $5,000 against public agencies engaging in patterns of obstruction or reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct regarding public records requests.

• Enables public agencies to petition the commission to designate requesters as "vexatious" based on documented patterns of abuse, with potential relief including exemption from compliance for up to one year.