MI HB5247

Removes the blanket prohibition on incarcerated individuals making Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, which previously excluded all prisoners from accessing public records

Allows incarcerated individuals to request public records only if the records contain specific references to themselves or their minor child (for whom parenting time has not been denied) and relate to arrests, prosecutions, or juvenile adjudications involving them or their child as a subject or victim

Requires incarcerated individuals to submit an affidavit attesting to their parental relationship and parenting time status when requesting records about their minor child

Extends the response deadline for FOIA requests from incarcerated individuals to 30 days (compared to the standard 5 business days), with the Department of Corrections or local law enforcement processing these requests

Allows public bodies to deny requests from incarcerated individuals within 30 days by certifying they possess no records related to the specified arrests or prosecutions, with no appeal available for such denials