SF 49

This bill draft revises Wyoming's public records laws. The bill amends the definition of "official public records" to include plea agreements and nonconfidential portions of sentencing memoranda. The bill establishes that public records requests must be acknowledged within three business days after receipt of the request. Records must be released within 10 calendar days unless an extension is granted by the public records ombudsman, who may authorize up to an additional 30 days or a mutually agreed-upon date. The ombudsman can also address complaints and refer unresolved cases to the attorney general or a district attorney for enforcement. The bill requires uniform fees related to public records, with exceptions if an entity charges lower fees or upon request for higher fees that is approved by the ombudsman. Penalties for knowingly violating the act increase from $750 to $2,000, and courts may award attorney fees to prevailing applicants.