What's happening
This bill prohibits certain government agencies from charging fees to other state or local agencies or the legislature for processing FOIL requests.
Why it matters
Removes financial barriers for inter-agency information sharing. By prohibiting government agencies from charging each other (or the legislature) fees for FOIL requests, the bill aims to make it easier and less costly for state and local governments to access necessary information in the course of their official duties.
May improve government efficiency and oversight. State and local agencies, as well as the legislature, often need information from one another to conduct audits, investigations, or policy analysis. Eliminating fees could speed up such processes and enhance transparency within government.
Clarifies the scope of fee prohibitions. The bill ensures that agencies cannot introduce new processing fees for these requests, but does not require agencies to eliminate any fees that were not already authorized—helping to prevent unintended expansion of fee waivers beyond what currently exists.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No FOIL Fees For Agencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
End FOIL Fees for Agencies
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Alessandra Biaggi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
733
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, PAULIN, JAFFEE, DenDEKKER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DINOWITZ, PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to prohibiting certain agencies from charging for the process of a FOIL request made by state and local agencies or the state legislature
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 87 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision one of this section, agencies constituting part of the state government or the government of a city of one million people or more shall not charge other state and local agencies, or the state legislature, fees for the processing of a request made in furtherance of the performance of the official duties of that agency or the state legislature pursuant to this article. However, nothing in this subdivision shall authorize or require any charges or fees for the processing of such a request not authorized or required prior to the effective date of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03991-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.