What records are available? 

Many records kept by public entities are open for inspection and/or copying by individuals. Commonly requested records include: 

• Ordinances 
• Resolutions 
• Minutes from open meetings 
• Salaries of public officials 
• Budgets 

Exceptions
The Kansas Open Records Act recognizes that some records contain information that is private. For this reason, the Open Records Act lists a number of exceptions. Records that are closed for this reason may include: 

• Personnel information about public employees 
• Medical treatment records 
• Records protected by the attorney client privilege or the rules of evidence 
• Records containing personal information compiled for Census purposes 
• Notes and preliminary drafts 
• Criminal investigation records 
• Other specific records 

A complete listing of exemptions can be found in Kansas State Statute 45-221. 

Why would my request be denied?

Although every attempt is made to provide the information requested, it is not always possible to fulfill the request. There are a number of reasons a request may be denied: 

• The specific record that was requested does not exist. 
• The request was unclear and should be resubmitted with more detail. 
• The requested record is closed to protect an important privacy interest (You may find a list of exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act in Kansas State Statute 45-221). 

Fees

The Kansas Open Records Act authorizes public agencies to charge fees for providing access or preparing copies of public records. This fee may be requested in advance and may include: 

• Cost of staff time required to make the information available. 
• Cost of copying or reproducing the record.