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Debate in Annapolis over new tools to block 'frivolous' public-records requests
Summary
House Bill 806 would allow custodians to seek faster relief against frivolous, vexatious or abusive Public Information Act (PIA) requests, including a direct path to circuit court and clearer statutory remedies. Custodians, sheriffs and universities supported the bill as a remedy to repeated harassing requests; press groups, civil liberties
Patrick Hughes of the Office of the Attorney General told the committee House Bill 806 would add the word "abusive" to PIA exemptions and allow custodians to seek (1) circuit-court orders in urgent cases and (2) clearer relief from the Public Information Act Compliance Board (PICB) including dismissal authority for frivolous complaints. "Frivolous and vexatious PI requests are rare, but when they target an agency, they can disrupt the operations of government," Hughes said, and argued the current PICB process…
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