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NY S06599
Bill
Status
3/18/2025
Primary Sponsor
Robert Jackson
Click for details
AI Summary
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Expands when courts may award attorney's fees and litigation costs in Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) cases to include situations where an agency failed to respond to a request or appeal within the statutory time, even if the requester did not substantially prevail
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Changes the scope of fee provisions from applying to the specific "section" to the entire "article" of public officers law governing FOIL
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Requires mandatory assessment of attorney's fees and costs when a requester substantially prevails and the court finds the agency had no reasonable basis for denying access
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Preserves all existing rights and remedies available under Article 86 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules
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Takes effect on the first of September following enactment
Legislative Description
Permits assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law when either the person has substantially prevailed, or if the agency failed to respond within the statutory time.
Last Action
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
3/12/2026