Rhode Island FOIA Request Procedures

The text of Rhode Island’s FOIA also known as RIGL-38-2 is linked below:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title38/38-2/INDEX.HTM

The text of Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act (OMA) is linked below:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes2/title42/42-46/index.htm

Making a Request

A written request should be sent to the administrator of the public body. Any person or entity requesting copies of public records may elect to obtain them in any and all media in which the public agency is capable of providing them. Any public body which maintains its records in a computer storage system shall provide any data properly identified in a printout or other reasonable format, as requested.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has a FOIA letter generator that works for federal requests and can also be customized for any state. Follow THIS LINK.

Response to a Request

The public body has ten (10) days to respond to the request to inspect or copy the public record Except that for good cause, this limit may be extended for a period not to exceed thirty (30) business days.

Fees for FIOA Requests
A public body must allow copies to be made or provide copies of public records. The cost per copied page of written documents provided to the public shall not exceed fifteen cents ($.15) per page. A public body may not charge more than the reasonable actual cost for providing electronic records.
A reasonable charge may be made for the search or retrieval of documents. Hourly costs for a search and retrieval shall not exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour and no costs shall be charged for the first hour of a search or retrieval.

Appealing a Denial

If denied access to a public record, one should submit a second written request to the public body and simultaneously file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office by sending a copy of the second request to:

The Honorable Patrick Lynch
Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island
150 South Main Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Jurisdiction to hear and determine civil actions brought under this chapter is vested in the superior court, which the attorney general may prosecute on a individual’s behalf or by an independent party.