Maine FOIA procedures

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Each state varies slightly in the procedures used to gain access to public documents. This article serves to describe specifically the steps used in Maine. To read the history and details of Maine’s sunshine laws please see Maine Freedom of Access Act

How to request public records in Maine

Requests should be directed to the office in which the records are held. However, the act does not require agencies to designate specific records custodians.

Purpose and use

The act does not place restrictions on the use of records and does not require a statement of purpose for public records requests.

Who may request public records?

See also: List of who can make public record requests by state

Anyone may request public records in Maine. "[E]very person has the right to inspect and copy any public record" ^[1]

Fees

See also: How much do public records cost?

The Maine FAA allows for the charging of fees for both copying and duplication as well as staff time involved in the search not to exceed $10 an hour and only after the first hour of searching. Any costs estimated over $100 must be paid in advance. Fees may be waived if the request is made on behalf of the public good or if the person requesting lacks the money to pay the fees. ^[2]

Response time

See also: Request response times by state

The law does not specify a time limit with regard to positive request responses. However, a rejection must occur within 5 business days of the receipt of the request. ^[3]

Exemptions

See also

• Maine Freedom of Access Act
• Maine Open Meeting Law

External links

• Maine Revised Statues Title 1 Chapter 13
• Open Government Guide to Maine

References

	v • d • e State of Maine Augusta (capital)
Transparency	Freedom of Access Act | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations |
Divisions	State | List of Counties | List of Cities | List of School Districts | Evaluation of county websites | Evaluation of city websites | Evaluation of school district websites |
Government	Maine State Constitution | Executive | House of Representatives | Senate |
Judiciary	Maine Supreme Court | Circuit Court of Appeals | District Courts | Judicial Nominating Commission | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations |
Ballot Measures	Ballot measures by year: 1911-2008 | 2008 ballot measures | Statewide ballot initiatives (2009) | List of citizen initiatives | Procedures for qualifying an initiative | Amending the constitution | History of direct democracy | Campaign finance requirements |