(A) As defined in §
34.01, and subject to the limitations set forth in §
34.12, any person desiring to inspect or copy the public records of the city shall make a request or complete a written application for such records at the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer during regular office hours, except during legal holidays. The application shall be hand delivered, mailed, or sent via facsimile or e-mail to the City Clerk/Treasurer’s office.
(B) If the custodian determines that a person's request is in compliance with the open records law and the requested records are immediately available, the custodian shall deliver the records for inspection. Suitable facilities shall be made available in the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer for the inspection. No person shall remove original copies of public records from the offices of any public agency without the written permission of the official custodian of the record.
(C) An applicant may inspect public records during the regular business hours of the city, or by receiving copies of the public records from the city through the mail if the applicant's residence or principal place of business is outside of the county in which the city is located and he has precisely described public records which are available within the city. If the person requesting the public records requests that the records be mailed, the official custodian shall mail the copies upon receipt of all fees and the cost of mailing.
(D) The applicant shall have the right to make abstracts of the public records and to obtain copies of all public records not exempted by this chapter. When copies are requested, the custodian may require a written request and advance payment of the prescribed fee as defined in
§ 34.01.
(E) Nonexempt public records used for noncommercial purposes shall be available for copying in either standard electronic or standard hard copy format, as designated by the party requesting the records, where the agency currently maintains the records in electronic format. Nonexempt public records used for noncommercial purposes shall be copied in standard hard copy format where agencies currently maintain records in hard copy format. Agencies are not required to convert hard copy format records to electronic formats.
(F) The minimum standard format in paper form shall be defined as not less than 82 inches x 11 inches in at least one (1) color on white paper, or for electronic format, in a flat file electronic American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format. If the public agency maintains electronic public records in a format other than ASCII, and this format conforms to the requestor's requirements, the public records may be provided in this alternate electronic format for standard fees as specified by the public agency. Any request for a public record in a form other than the forms described in this section shall be considered a nonstandardized request.
(G) Unless an enactment of the General Assembly prohibits the disclosure of public records to persons who intend to use them for commercial purposes, if copies of nonexempt public records are requested for commercial purposes, the public agency may establish a reasonable fee. The public agency from which copies of nonexempt public records are requested for a commercial purpose may require a certified statement from the requestor stating the commercial purpose for which they shall be used, and may require the requestor to enter into a contract with the agency. The contract shall permit use of the public records for the stated commercial purpose for a specified fee. The fee may be based on the cost to the public agency of media, mechanical processing and staff required to produce a copy of the public record or records or the cost to the public agency of the creation purchase, or the acquisition of the public records.
(H) It shall be unlawful for a person to obtain a copy of any part of a public record for a:
(1) Commercial purpose, without stating the commercial purpose, if a certified statement from the requestor was required by the public agency pursuant to subsection (G) of this section: or
(2) Commercial purpose, if the person uses or knowingly allows the use of the public record for a different commercial purpose; or
(3) Noncommercial purpose, if the person uses or knowingly allows the use of the public record for a commercial purpose. A newspaper, periodical, radio or television station shall not be held to have used or knowingly allowed the use of the public record for a commercial purpose merely because of its publication or broadcast, unless it has also given its express permission for that commercial use.
(I) Online access to public records in electronic form, as provided under this section, may be provided and made available at the discretion of the public agency. If a party wishes to access public records by electronic means and the public agency agrees to provide online access, a public agency may require that the party enter into a contract, license, or other agreement with the agency, and may charge fees for these agreements. Fees shall not exceed:
(1) The cost of physical connection to the system and reasonable cost of computer time access charges;
(2) If the records are requested for a commercial purpose, a reasonable fee based on the factors set forth in subsection (G).
