NY A01288

Expands the definition of "agency" under the Freedom of Information Law to include school districts and any body that is functionally equivalent to a government agency based on factors like performing governmental functions, receiving substantial government support, or having public employees

Requires all state agencies to maintain websites, publish their current fiscal year budgets on their homepages, and make publishable state data available on either their own website or the state's open data website

Restructures the Committee on Open Government to consist of 7 appointed members (including news media representatives, local government officials, and private citizens) who must be confirmed by the Senate, and requires the committee to meet monthly rather than twice annually

Transfers appeals of denied records requests from individual agencies to the Committee on Open Government, which must assign appeals officers, offer informal mediation, and issue written decisions within 15-60 days

Extends the initial response time for records requests from 5 to 10 business days, increases the appeal deadline from 30 to 90 days, and mandates that courts assess attorney's fees against agencies that fail to respond within statutory timeframes