State lawmakers are moving to throw new roadblocks in the path of at least some people who want access to public records.
Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said there are a handful of people who abuse the state's public records laws by making broad requests. He said there used to be a built-in disincentive to such fishing expeditions.
"You had to do a photocopy. They were charging 15, 25-cents a copy. If you asked for thousands of pages it would cost you a lot of cash. That's gone. Now it all goes on a CD and all you can charge is $5," he said.
His legislation would allow government agencies and employees to reject a request if it is "unduly burdensome or harassing." But the measure does not define exactly what that is. And that concerned Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, who said he fears it could be used as a way to spurn legitimate requests.
"I'm just worried who's going to make the judgment call that it's unduly burdensome or harassing," he said. "If that's the town or the government agency, I think they can just start saying, 'This is all unduly burdensome.'"
But Kavanagh said his legislation preserves provisions in existing law that allows someone who is wrongfully denied access to public records to not only sue but also get reimbursed legal fees. The measure cleared the House Committee on Government and Higher Education on a 6-2 vote.