MS HB928

Requires any staff time or contractual services included in public records request costs to be calculated at the pay scale of the lowest level employee or contractor competent to fulfill the request.

Adds civil penalty provision allowing individuals to recover damages against any person who charges an unreasonable fee for providing a public record, with liability capped at $100 per violation plus reasonable expenses.

Maintains existing authority for public bodies to establish reasonable fee scales for geographic information systems and electronically accessible data, considering information type, purpose, and commercial value.

Effective date is July 1, 2014.