HAINES BOROUGH
PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS
Request Form
Requests for public records are not required by law to be in writing. However, the borough routinely requests that requests for
information research, or copies of documents or audio recordings, be made in writing on a form provided by the borough in
order to:
a. provide the requestor with a copy of what was requested for their records;
b. provide accurate information to the various borough departments which may maintain records responsive to the
request so that the specific documents may be clearly understood and to minimize the risk of errors in
translations; and
c. a written, dated request provides helpful reference in the event that questions develop as to either the timing of
the request or whether the requested documents fall within one of the disclosure exceptions.
Reasonable Length of Time
The borough office staff shall have a reasonable length of time to provide requested information or copies. The length of time
to provide information or copies will be dependent on the amount and detail in the information requested, the need for a legal
or confidentiality review, and the current work load of the staff. Within ten (10) business days after the written request is
received, the borough will either
Provide the record,
Acknowledge receipt of the request and provide a reasonable estimate of the time required to respond,
Request clarification, or
Deny the request.
If the request is denied, the borough will respond in writing, cite the pertinent legal exemption, and explain how the
exemption applies to the request. Please Initial
Fees
The Borough will provide copies of records upon request at the expense of the person making the request. The costs will be
according to the Borough’s most current posted fee schedule. The Borough may establish flat-rate costs to be charged
instead of a per-page fee for reports, maps, specifications, other similar bound or produced information, or information
requiring significant or substantial research time. The Borough Manager or Borough Clerk may waive copy charges for
documents distributed as general public information or may approve reduced rates for special or unusual circumstances.
Open Records Act - State law on public records: AS 40.25.100-220; 2 AAC 96.100-900. Exceptions are listed in
AS 40.25.120.
AS 40.25.110. Public Records Open to Inspection and Copying; Fees.
(a) Unless specifically provided otherwise, the public records of all public agencies are open to inspection by
the public under reasonable rules during regular office hours. The public officer having the custody of public records
shall give on request and payment of the fee established under this section or AS 40.25.115 a certified copy of the
public record.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the fee for copying public records may not exceed the
standard unit cost of duplication established by the public agency.
(c) If the production of records for one requester in a calendar month exceeds five person-hours, the public
agency shall require the requester to pay the personnel costs required during the month to complete the search and
copying tasks. The personnel costs may not exceed the actual salary and benefit costs for the personnel time required
to perform the search and copying tasks. The requester shall pay the fee before the records are disclosed, and the
public agency may require payment in advance of the search.
(d) A public agency may reduce or waive a fee when the public agency determines that the reduction or
waiver is in the public interest. Fee reductions and waivers shall be uniformly applied among persons who are similarly
situated. A public agency may waive a fee of $5 or less if the fee is less than the cost to the public agency to arrange
for payment.
AS 40.25.122. Litigation Disclosure.
A public record that is subject to disclosure and copying under AS 40.25.110 - 40.25.120 remains a public
record subject to disclosure and copying even if the record is used for, included in, or relevant to litigation, including
law enforcement proceedings, involving a public agency, except that with respect to a person involved in litigation, the
records sought shall be disclosed in accordance with the rules of procedure applicable in a court or an administrative
adjudication. In this section, "involved in litigation" means a party to litigation or representing a party to litigation,
including obtaining public records for the party.
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