 |
Friday, June 02, 2006
City resolution contradicts Florida statutes
By George McGinn
Sun-Herald
Florida statutes state that a fee charged for public information requests must be the "actual cost of duplication of the public record." The law also says any request that requires extensive time is charged using the lowest paid employee's hourly rate, Harper said.
"Fifteen minutes is not considered extensive time," Harper said. "CD's do not cost $20. In fact, with today's technology, it takes a few minutes to copy them."
Pat Gleason, general counsel for the State Attorney General's Office, also said that a "city resolution is not considered law" in their view.
"The governing law is Chapter 119, unless state legislation says otherwise," Gleason adding state law also define costs for aerial photographs and certified copies.
Copyright 2006 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
By George McGinn
Sun-Herald
Florida statutes state that a fee charged for public information requests must be the "actual cost of duplication of the public record." The law also says any request that requires extensive time is charged using the lowest paid employee's hourly rate, Harper said.
"Fifteen minutes is not considered extensive time," Harper said. "CD's do not cost $20. In fact, with today's technology, it takes a few minutes to copy them."
Pat Gleason, general counsel for the State Attorney General's Office, also said that a "city resolution is not considered law" in their view.
"The governing law is Chapter 119, unless state legislation says otherwise," Gleason adding state law also define costs for aerial photographs and certified copies.
Copyright 2006 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
# posted by J @ 10:44 AM 