By: (AP) State government officials in Ohio would receive mandatory public-records training and face stiffer penalties for failing to comply with records requests under a bill introduced this week.
State Rep. Scott Oelslager, a Canton Republican, said he designed the legislation with Attorney General Jim Petro and Ohio Newspaper Association Executive Director Frank Deaner to allow access to public records with fewer hassles.
Oelslager and Petro said in a news release that the need for such legislation was demonstrated by a survey this summer by the Newspaper Association and The Associated Press. Although the law requires public employees to provide common records on an unconditional and timely basis, the survey found it happened only about half the time.
Under the legislation, all elected local or statewide public officials would receive mandatory public records training. The bill would also require all public offices to have written policies on handling requests and to provide employees with the written policy.
The proposal would also allow judges to assess fines in cases where non-compliance with the law is egregious.
With Friday being the last scheduled session for state lawmakers this year, it's unlikely they will have time to pass the bill unveiled on Wednesday.
Oelslager has said he will bring the bill back in next year's session. A message was left at his office on Thursday.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here