132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 152 LR 338(01)
An Act to Amend the Freedom of Access Act to Require a Specific Time Frame for Agencies to Comply with Requests for Public Records
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. Libby of Auburn
Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 Projections  FY 2027-28 Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $640,641 $688,948 $714,397 $740,835
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $640,641 $688,948 $714,397 $740,835
Other Special Revenue Funds $148,889 $160,156 $165,849 $171,763
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds $148,889 $160,156 $165,849 $171,763
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) will require General Fund appropriations of $640,641 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $688,948 in fiscal year 2026-27 to establish 4 Public Service Coordinator I positions to provide support for Freedom of Access Act requests and administrative appeals hearing coordination, documentation aggregation and legal communications, and to transfer funding to reimburse the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for one Assistant Attorney General position and related costs. 
OAG will require Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $148,889 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $160,156 in fiscal year 2026-27 for one Assistant Attorney General position and related costs to support DAFS with Freedom of Access Act requests.

OAG will require a revenue increase of $148,889 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $160,156 in fiscal year 2026-27 for reimbursement of costs for one Assistant Attorney General position and related costs from DAFS.
The bill increases costs to all State agencies by amending the Freedom of Access Act to require agencies and officials to make good faith efforts to fully respond to requests within the estimated time frames but must fully respond within 30 days after the dates on which requests were made.