Senate Bill S2004A

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Relating to permitting assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to records under the freedom of information law

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Votes

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S2004 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A6459
Current Committee:
Senate Rules
Law Section:
Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §89, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S7835
2023-2024: S5174, A5118

2021-S2004 - Summary

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.

2021-S2004 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S2004 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2004
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. JACKSON, BIAGGI -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Investigations
   and Government Operations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public  officers law, in relation to permitting
   assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to
   records under the freedom of information law
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 89 of the public
 officers law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2017, is  amended
 to read as follows:
   (c)  The  court  in  such a proceeding[: (i)] may assess, against such
 agency involved, reasonable attorney's fees and other  litigation  costs
 reasonably  incurred  by such person in any case under the provisions of
 this [section in which] ARTICLE IN WHICH:
   (I) such person has substantially prevailed[,] and  [when]  THE  COURT
 FINDS  THAT SUCH AGENCY HAD NO SUCH REASONABLE BASIS FOR DENYING ACCESS;
 OR
   (II) the agency failed to respond to a request or  appeal  within  the
 statutory  time;  [and  (ii) shall assess, against such agency involved,
 reasonable  attorney's  fees  and  other  litigation  costs   reasonably
 incurred by such person in any case under the provisions of this section
 in which such person has substantially prevailed] OR
   (III)  THE  RECORD IS SUBSTANTIALLY DISCLOSED FOLLOWING THE INITIATION
 OF SUCH PROCEEDING BUT PRIOR TO A JUDICIAL DETERMINATION and  the  court
 finds  that  the  agency  [had  no] LACKED A reasonable basis IN LAW for
 [denying access] WITHHOLDING THE RECORD.
   NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO  ABRIDGE  OR  DENY  ANY
 RIGHT OR REMEDY AVAILABLE UNDER ARTICLE EIGHTY-SIX OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE
 LAW AND RULES.
   §  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the first of September next
 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

co-Sponsors

2021-S2004A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A6459
Current Committee:
Senate Rules
Law Section:
Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §89, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S7835
2023-2024: S5174, A5118

2021-S2004A (ACTIVE) - Summary

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.

2021-S2004A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S2004A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2004--A
     Cal. No. 92
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. JACKSON, BIAGGI, GAUGHRAN, MANNION, REICHLIN-MELNICK
   -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations -- recommit-
   ted  to  the  Committee on Investigations and Government Operations in
   accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from  said
   committee,  ordered  to  first  and  second report, ordered to a third
   reading  --  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules   --   committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public  officers law, in relation to permitting
   assessment of certain fees and costs upon wrongful denial of access to
   records under the freedom of information law
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 89 of the public
 officers law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2017, is  amended
 to read as follows:
   (c) The court in such a proceeding: (i) may assess, against such agen-
 cy  involved,  reasonable  attorney's  fees  and  other litigation costs
 reasonably incurred by such person in any case under the  provisions  of
 this [section] ARTICLE in which such person has substantially prevailed,
 [and  when]  OR  IN  WHICH  the agency failed to respond to a request or
 appeal within the statutory time; and (ii) shall  assess,  against  such
 agency  involved,  reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs
 reasonably incurred by such person in any case under the  provisions  of
 this  [section] ARTICLE in which such person has substantially prevailed
 and the court finds that the agency had no reasonable basis for  denying
 access.  NOTHING  CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO ABRIDGE OR DENY
 ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY AVAILABLE UNDER  ARTICLE  EIGHTY-SIX  OF  THE  CIVIL
 PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
   §  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the first of September next
 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

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