Section 5176.510  Reduction and Waiver of Fees

a)         Fees may be reduced or waived by the Board if the requester states the specific purpose for the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest.  In making this determination, the Board will consider the following:

1)         Whether the principal purpose of the request is to disseminate information regarding the health, safety, welfare or legal rights of the general public; and

2)         Whether the principal purpose of the request is personal or commercial benefit.  For purposes of this subsection (a), "commercial benefit" shall not apply to requests made by news media when the principal purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety, welfare or legal rights of the general public.  (Section 6(c) of FOIA)

b)         In setting the amount of the waiver or reduction, the Board will take into consideration the amount of materials requested and the cost of copying them.  (Section 6(c) of FOIA)

c)         The Board will provide copies of records without charge to federal, State and municipal agencies, Constitutional officers and members of the General Assembly, and not-for-profit organizations providing evidence of good standing with the Secretary of State's Office.

d)         Except to the extent that the General Assembly expressly provides, statutory fees applicable to copies of records when furnished in a paper format will not be applicable to those records when furnished to a requester in an electronic format.  (Section 6(a) of FOIA)