The following article was published in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. It pertains to the newly passed Ohio bill in regard to Ohio's open record law:

• Creates an Office of Public Access Counselor to help mediate disputes over open public records and meetings before they reach the courts.
• Provides that Ohioians who file a complaint with that agency become eligible for mandatory attorney fees if they prevail.
• Provides that Ohioians who take open records complaints straight to the courts would receive attorney fees only at a judge's descretion.
• Also provides mandatory attorney fees if a government agency promises to deliver records by a certain date but fails to provide them; and if a government agency unnecessarily delays the delivery of the records.
• Permits individuals who sue public agencies for refusing to provide records to seek fines for up to $1000.
• Requires public officials to provide records within ten days with extensions allowed based on the size of the request.
• Requires elected officials or people they designate to attend a mandatory, three-hour training session on open records law, provided free by the attorney general's office.
• Makes public the names and addresses of propety owners involved in a government agency's public housing program.
• Recinds a state law shielding work documents maintained by private companies hired by public agencies to conduct audits.

Source: House Civil and Commercial Law Committee