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F.A.Q.
Compiled by the Madison law office of LaFollette Godfrey & Kahn
Open Records LawOpen Meetings Law
- How does Wisconsin statute section 19.36(7) apply to the names of "final candidates" for public positions, such as school superintendent or police chief?
- Why should I make an open records request in writing?
- What do I need to include in a written open records request?
- Can I request to just view records if I do not want copies?
- Are juvenile records always closed to the public?
- Are electronic records subject to the Open Records Law?
- I sent an open records request more than a week ago and I haven't received a response. What should I do?
- How much can a governmental entity charge for copies of records requested under the Open Records Law?
- Can I make an open records request for police records, such as daily arrest records or records involving an investigation? What about a district attorney's investigative files?
- Is the subject of the record always entitled to notice of the open records request under section 19.356, Stats.? If the record subject is entitled to notice, then how long will it take to get the record?
- Are public employee personnel records open to the public?
- Can custodians impose a sales tax on records requests?
- When can a governmental body close a meeting to discuss compensation issues?
- A county board went into a closed session meeting last night, and I'm interested in finding out what it discussed. How can I do that?
- Can a governmental body vote in closed session? If so, how can I get access to those votes?
- Do public bodies that meet in closed session then have to vote in open session?
- Can a governmental body go back into open session after convening in closed session?
- What constitutes a "meeting"?
- I've heard the terms "walking quorum " and "negative quorum." What do they mean?
- How can I get copies of documents that will be discussed at a meeting in advance of the meeting?
- How much notice must be given before a meeting?
- The meeting notice includes a discussion of "miscellaneous" items. Does that notice comply with the Open Meetings Law?
- When is a corporation/organization a "quasi-governmental corporation" subject to the Open Meetings Law?
