The Kansas Open Records Act(PDF, 17KB) (KORA) grants you the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records created or maintained by public agencies in Kansas.
The Open Records Act, K.S.A. 45-215, et seq., as amended, declares that it is the public policy of Kansas that “public records shall be open for inspection by any person.”
Public records are defined as “any recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, which is made, maintained or kept by or is in the possession of any public agency.” The Unified Government Clerk’s office is classified as a public agency for the purposes of this Act.
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How quickly will I get an answer?
All efforts will be made to process your request for public records as soon as it is received; however, some requests may be delayed or denied if:
- More information is needed in order to retrieve the records;
- Legal issues must be addressed before the records are released;
- The requested records are archived or stored off site;
- The volume of records requested is large and will take time to duplicate.
Could my request get denied?
Requests may be denied in whole or in part if:
- The requested record does not exist;
- The requested record is exempt from disclosure by law;
- The request is unclear and more information is needed.
If the request is delayed or denied, you will receive a written explanation for the delay or denial within three business days as outlined under “Your Rights.” You may be requested to provide additional information if access to public records or the purpose for which the records are to be used is limited by state law.
What could cause my request to inspect a record get denied?
- The request “places an unreasonable burden in producing public records”; or
- The custodian of the records “has reason to believe that repeated requests are intended to disrupt other essential functions of the public agency.”
- Denial of a person’s inspection or copying request must be explained in writing if the person requests such an explanation.
What are the exceptions?
The Kansas Open Records Act recognizes that certain records contain private or privileged information. The Act lists several exceptions. A complete list of exceptions can be found in K.S.A. 45-221