Alabama Public Records Law

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State laws
How to ask for records
Transparency headlines
Statutory changes
Notable FOIA requests
State sunshine lawsuits
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The WikiFOIA portal

The Alabama Public Records Law is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Alabama. Statues 41.13.1 - 41.13.44 of the Alabama legislature define the law. The law was first enacted in 1923.

The Alabama Open Meetings Act legislates the methods by which public meetings are conducted. Statutes 36.25A.1 - 36.24A.11 of the Alabama legislature define the law.

Alabama's transparency report card

A 2008 study, BGA - Alper Integrity Index, conducted by the Better Government Association and sponsored by Alper Services, ranked Alabama #48 in the nation with an overall percentage of 34.90%. [1]

A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave Alabama 0 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of "F", and a ranking of 49 out of the 50 states.[2]

A 2002 study, Freedom of Information in the USA, conducted by IRE and BGA, ranked Alabama's law as the 50th worst in the country, giving it a letter grade of "F".[3]

Public Records

Public records are defined by the Code of Alabama as "all written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer."[4]

Open Meetings

The purpose of the Alabama Open Meetings Act reads as follows: "It is the policy of this state that the deliberative process of governmental bodies shall be open to the public during meetings" and "Except for executive sessions permitted in Section 36-25A-7(a) or as otherwise expressly provided by other federal or state statutes, all meetings of a governmental body shall be open to the public and no meetings of a governmental body may be held without providing notice".[5]

Who May Request Alabama Records?

Only citizens of Alabama may request public records from the state.

"Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute." [6]

For requester residency requirements in other states, see the list of who can make public record requests by state.

External Links

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Integrity Index available for download here
  2. ↑ Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, 2007
  3. ↑ Freedom of Information in the USA, 2002
  4. ↑ Code of Alabama, 41-13-1
  5. ↑ Code of Alabama, 36-25A-1
  6. ↑ Code of Alabama, 36-12-40
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