Source: https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-sections/1-statutory-regulatory-or-court-set-time-limits-for-agency-response/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 02:26:48+00:00

Document:
The public records statute does not specify any waiting period. Although the regulations do, the statutes would govern, and the public records law specifies that there is no requirement of exhaustion of remedies before a suit for access to public records can be filed. AS 40.25.125.
As a general rule, the state regulations provide that the agency maintaining the requested records must furnish all requested records that are disclosable "as soon as practicable," but no later than the tenth working day after the agency receives a written request that complies with the regulations. 2 AAC 96.325(a).
The agency must promptly notify you if your request cannot be further processed until additional information is furnished because the description you gave is not sufficient to allow the agency to identify and locate the records you have requested. Time limits set out in the regulations do not begin to run until a sufficient description of the records is received in the office responsible for maintaining the records. 2 AAC 96.315(b). There is one source of delay which an agency can raise that you may be able to avoid by your initial request — any time which elapses between the time that you are sent the notice that processing your request will generate chargeable fees, and the time that you make suitable arrangements for payment of those charges, will be excluded from the period of 10 working days (or any extension of that). 2 AAC 96.325(c).
Within this 10-day period, the agency is supposed to furnish all requested records that are disclosable, and advise the requester which of the records, if any, are nondisclosable and the specific legal authority supporting this nondisclosure. 2 AAC 96.325(a)(1)(2). Within this same initial 10-working-day period after receipt of a request, a public agency that decides a request for a public record is, in fact, a request for electronic services and products, must advise the requester or its decision and reasons for this decision. 2 AAC 96.325(b).
The agency can extend the basic 10-working-day period for up to another 10 additional working days by sending written notice of this to you within the initial 10-day period. This notice must state the reasons for the extension and the date by which the office expects to be able to furnish the records you have requested or issue a determination that they are not disclosable. The notice must include a statement that "the extension is not invoked for purposes of delay." Such an extension is permitted only when one or more of the following circumstances exists, and then only as to those specific documents within the request as to which the circumstances apply: (1) there is a need to search for and collect the requested records from field or other offices that are separate from the office responsible for maintaining the records; (2) there is a need to search for, collect and examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are sought in a single request; (3) there is a need for consultation with an officer or employee who is absent on approved leave or official business; (4) the basic response period comes during a peak workload period; or (5) there is a need to consult with legal counsel to ensure that protected interests of private or government persons or entities are not infringed. 2 AAC 96.325(d).
In extraordinary circumstances the agency may request an extension of the period from the attorney general if the scope of the search or copying task is such that it would, within the initial 10-day period and any authorized extension under (d), substantially impair the functioning of the agency or its office responsible for maintaining the requested records. Such a claim must be made by the agency head to the attorney general, and following such a request for approval, the attorney general must promptly give you and the agency an opportunity to be heard and must render a speedy decision. Approval may be granted only in extraordinary circumstances and only for the minimum period determined by the attorney general to be required to complete the search or copying without substantial impairment of the agency or office function. 2 AAC 96.325(e).
Access to records apparently must be granted immediately unless the records are in active use or storage, in which case they must be made available within three working days of the request. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(e). While the FOIA contemplates immediate access, the custodian has a “reasonable time” to respond to the request if the records are voluminous or if they must be reviewed to decide whether an exemption applies. Reasonableness is determined on a case-by-case basis, and an agency policy that all responses will be made in three working days is contrary to the act. Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. Nos. 2000-59, 99-157, 98-223, 96-354, 94-225.
(1) As a practical matter, records at most agencies (except those set up to handle “over-the-counter” requests, such as the circuit clerk’s office) will be in either active use or storage, thus triggering the provision allowing the agency three working days to make them available. Records are in active use if, “at the time of the FOIA request[, they] are being utilized by agency employees in the performance of their official functions or duties.” Records are in storage if, at the time of the request, they are “located in a place which makes immediate access impossible or impractical.” Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 94-225. The location of the unit in which the records are stored is of no significance. Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 98-223.
(2) Requests for personnel records and employee evaluation records must be acted upon with 24 hours of the custodian’s receipt of the request. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(c)(3)(A). During that same period, the custodian must notify the person about whom the records are maintained that a request has been made. Id. The custodian, requester, or subject of the records may “immediately” seek an Attorney General’s opinion as to whether the records are exempt from disclosure. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(c)(3)(B). The statute requires the Attorney General to issue an opinion within three working days, and the records should not be disclosed until an opinion is handed down. Id.; Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 93-300. If no request for an Attorney General’s opinion is made, the custodian should wait an additional 48 hours (72 hours from receipt of the FOIA request) before releasing the records. Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. Nos. 99-168, 97-008.
(3) The deadline of three working days will simply be unrealistic in some cases. See Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2000-059 (if a search will take some time because the requested records are voluminous or it is necessary for the custodian to obtain legal advice as to whether some records may be exempt from disclosure, the custodian should be afforded a “reasonable amount of time” to comply with the request, even if more than three working days are necessary). If the request is likely to be controversial or covers a large number of records, the requester should consider allowing the agency additional time or negotiating for the immediate release of some records and access to others on a delayed basis.
An agency also must allow for the inspection of public records at all times during the office hours of the agency. Cal. Gov't Code § 6253(a).
Extension of time for unusual circumstances. If the agency contends that the request is unusual and requires a search of separate locations, an examination of a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records, consultation with another agency with an interest in the records requested, or the compilation of data, writing of programming language or constructing a computer report to extract data, the time limit for the agency to make its determination regarding disclosure may be extended by an additional 14 days. In such "unusual circumstances," the head of the agency, or his or her designee, must provide written notice to the person making the request "setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched," which shall not be later than 14 days beyond the original 10 day period. When the determination is dispatched and if the agency determines that the records are disclosable, it must notify the requester of when the records will be made available. Cal. Gov't Code § 6253(c).
The CPRA requires prompt notification of agency determination. As soon as a determination is made whether to comply with the request, the agency must immediately notify the requester of the decision and of the reasons for any denial. Cal. Gov't Code § 6255(a). The agency is required to demonstrate that the record in question is exempt by citing the specific provision(s) of the CPRA or other law it is relying upon for its denial to disclose. Id.
All public records are open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, but the official custodian of any public records may make such rules as are reasonably necessary for the protection of such records and the prevention of unnecessary interference with the regular discharge of the duties of the custodian. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-203(1).
Where public records are kept only in miniaturized or digital form, the official custodian shall ensure public access to the public records without unreasonable delay. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-203(1).
If the public records requested are not readily available at the time an applicant asks to examine them, the custodian shall notify the applicant of this fact, and if requested by the applicant, the custodian shall set a date and hour at which time the records will be available for inspection within a reasonable time after the request. A "reasonable time" shall be presumed to be three working days or less. Under extenuating circumstances such period may be extended to no more than seven working days. A finding that extenuating circumstances exist shall be made in writing by the custodian and shall be provided to the person making the request within the three-day period. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-203(3).
FOIA states that: "[a]ny denial of the right to inspect or copy records provided for under section 1-210 shall be made to the person requesting such right by the public agency official who has custody or control of the public record, in writing, within four business days of such request, except when the request is determined to be subject to subsections (b) and (c) of section 1-214, in which case denial shall be made in writing within ten business days of such request. Failure to comply with a request to so inspect or copy such public record within the applicable number of business days shall be deemed to be a denial." Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-206(a). An agency may not defend its decision to ignore a request on the grounds that the request was made simply for the purposes of harassing the agency. Mayor v. FOIC, No. CV 01-0511803S, 2002 WL 523086 (Conn. Super. Mar. 19, 2002). Records must be produced promptly. Promptly means “quickly and without undue delay, taking into account” various factors. Torlai v. FOIC, 2017 Conn. Super. LEXIS 4989. In Aronow v. FOIC, 2018 Conn. Super. LEXIS 31, the Superior Court affirmed the FOIC’s determination that a nine month response time to produce the requested records was proper based upon the circumstances.
The Attorney General has suggested that responses should issue within 10 days after receiving a request, absent special circumstances requiring a longer delay. Del. Op. Att'y Gen., No. 91-I003 (Feb. 1, 1991). If the requested information is not exempt, agencies must give "reasonable" access to records during "regular business hours and [at the] place of business." 29 Del. C. §§ 10003(a), 10112(b)(3).
"Reasonable access" as used in Delaware's FOIA means that a public body "should, within ten (10) days after the receipt of a definitive request, issue a written determination to the requestor stating which of the requested records will, and which will not, be released and the reasons for any denial of a request." Del. Op. Att'y Gen., No. 91-I003 (Feb. 1, 1991). Weekends and legal holidays have been excluded from the 10-day calculation. Del. Op. Att'y Gen., No. 03-ib13 (June 2, 2003).
Disclosure must be made, or denied, within 15 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays. D.C. Code Ann. § 2-532(c). In unusual circumstances, defined by the statute, an agency may extend the deadline up to 10 days, excluding weekends and holidays. Id. § 2-532(d).
Upon receipt of a request, an agency is required to respond “within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed three business days.” O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A). If some, but not all, records can be located and produced within three business days, the agency shall make those records available as soon as reasonable within that period. If additional records exist but cannot be located and produced within that three day period, the agency shall, as soon as reasonable within that period, “provide the requester with a description of such records and a timeline for when the records will be available for inspection or copying and provide the responsive records or access thereto as soon as practicable.” Id.
In the case of formal requests, the agency has ten business days to disclose government records that will be disclosed in its entirety. Haw. Code R. § 2-71-13(a). For those records that will be segregated before being disclosed, the agency has ten business days to provide notice to the requester. Id. § 2-71-13(b).
The Idaho Public Records Act sets out specific time limits for an agency response to a request for inspection. An agency has three (3) working days to either grant or deny the request for information. Idaho Code § 74-103(1). Although agencies legally have up to three (3) working days to respond, agencies should not delay three (3) days to provide any information that is readily accessible. If you feel that the agency is able to provide you with access to a public record in a shorter period than three (3) working days and is refusing to provide you with more timely access for some improper reason, you should complain to a superior in the agency and to an Idaho legislator. At the time the Act was passed into law, the legislature indicated that groundless delays in providing access to records would lead to a shortening of the allowable response period.
If more than three (3) working days is needed to either locate the requested records or to retrieve the information, the agency must notify the requester in writing that more time is necessary and then grant or deny the request in full or in part within ten (10) working days from the date of request. Idaho Code § 74-103(1).
If a request for examination of public records is denied, the agency making the denial is to notify the requesting party in writing of the denial, identify the specific statutory basis for the denial and indicate that the agency has consulted with its attorney or chosen not to do so. The written denial is also required to clearly advise the requesting party of the right to appeal the denial and the time period allowed for doing so. Idaho Code § 74-103(3)-(4). A 180-day appeal period begins from the date of mailing of the notice of denial. Idaho Code § 74-115 (1)-(4).
Each public body must either comply with or deny a written request for public records within five business days after receiving it. See 5 ILCS 140/3(d).
(vii) there is a need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another public body or among two or more components of a public body having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter of the request. See 5 ILCS 140/3(e).
The person making a request and the public body may agree in writing to extend the time for compliance for a period to be determined by the parties. If the requester and the public body agree to extend the period for compliance, a failure by the public body to comply with any previous deadlines shall not be treated as a denial of the request. 5 ILCS 140/3.
Under Indiana Code Section 5-14-3-9, a denial is deemed to occur: (a) in the case of a request for the record made in person or by telephone, immediately upon refusal by a person designated by an agency to make records disclosure decisions, or 24 hours after any other employee of the agency refuses to permit inspection and copying of the public record; or (b) in the case of a request by mail or facsimile, seven days after the request has been received. However, an agency that agrees to provide records may not violate the statute if it fails to provide the records within the statutory time frame if the agency provides the records within a reasonable time and advises the requestor that the agency is not challenging the right to the documents. See Hrstich v. City of E. Chicago, 862 N.E.2d 9 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (unpublished).
Importantly, there is no set timeframe in which a public agency must actually produce the records. The agency is merely required to produce the documents or allow the requestor to make copies within a reasonable time. Ind. Code § 5-14-3-3(b).
A request must be acted upon as soon as possible, but not later than the third business day following the date the request is received. K.S.A. 45-218(d). "As soon as possible" means without undue delay, and immediately, if circumstances make that possible. Stauffer Communications Inc. v. Hayes, District Court of Jefferson Co., No. 87 C 66 (1987).
A public agency has three days, excluding holidays and weekends, after receipt of a request to notify in writing the requester of the agency's decision to allow or deny inspection of the public record. Ky. Rev. Stat. 61.880(1).
Within three days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 44:32(D). Custodian must respond within three days even if still in the process of determining which requested records may be withheld. Association of Rights of Citizens v. St. Bernard, 557 So. 2d 714, 716-17 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1990).
The statute provides a mandatory time frame in which the custodian must act upon the application. § 4-203(a). Within thirty days after receiving an application, the custodian must grant or deny the application. Id.; see also Stromberg Metal Works Inc. v. University of Maryland, et al., 382 Md. 151, 155, 854 A.2d 1220, 1223 (2004). Notwithstanding the thirty-day time period, where the right to access is clear, the custodian must act immediately. § 4-203(b)(1); see also PIA Manual, at 4-2. If the application is approved, then the custodian must produce the public record immediately or within a reasonable period that is needed to retrieve the public record, but that period cannot exceed the thirty day time period after receipt of the application. § 4-203(b)(1); see also Prince George's County v. Washington Post Co., 149 Md. App. 289, 308, 815 A.2d 859, 870 (2003). The time limits imposed by § 4-203(a)-(c) may not be extended without the consent of the applicant and in any event may not be extended for more than thirty days. § 4-203(d).
If the application is denied, then the custodian must immediately notify the applicant within 10 working days, give the applicant a written statement that sets forth the reasons for the denial, the legal authority for the denial, and notice of the remedies provided by the PIA for review of the denial. § 4-203(c); see also City of Frederick v. Randall Family, 154 Md. App. 543, 559, 841 A.2d 10, 20 (2004); Prince George's County, 149 Md. App. at 308, 815 A.2d at 870. This 10-day period is in addition to the maximum 30-day or (with an agreed extension) 60-day periods for granting or denying a request. Stromberg Metal Works Inc. v. University of Maryland, 382 Md. 151, 158-59, 854 A.2d 1220 (2004); see also PIA Manual, at 4-3.
The PIA previously provided that a custodian must permit inspection of any part of the record that is subject to access and is reasonably severable. See PIA Manual at 3-44. Since the 2015 amendments, however, the statute now states that a custodian who denies an application for a public record must “allow inspection of any part of the record that is subject to inspection.” § 4-203(c)(1)(ii). See Blythe v. State, 161 Md. App. 492, 519, 870 A.2d 1246, 1261, cert. granted, 388 Md. 97, 879 A.2d 42 (2005) (discussing the information a custodian must set forth to satisfy the statutory burden and justify withholding of the record).
If an application is submitted to an individual who is not the custodian, then that individual must, within 10 working days after receiving the application, give the applicant notice of that fact and, if known, the name of the custodian and the location or possible location of the public record. § 4-202(c).
(b) Issuing a written notice denying the request.
(c) Granting the request in part and issuing a written notice denying the request in part.
(d) Under unusual circumstances, as defined in Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.232(i), issuing a notice extending for not more than 10 business days the period during which the public body shall respond to the request. A public body shall not issue more than 1 notice of extension for a particular request. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.235(2)(d). The five-business day time limit begins when a sufficient description of the public record is received by the public body at the office where the records are kept. 1979-80 Op. Att'y Gen. 255, 268-69 (1979). A public body may not treat a request for its records as having been received as of the date of its next regularly scheduled meeting; the request must be answered within five business days of the date the request was actually received by the public body. 1981-82 Op. Att'y Gen. 584, 586 (1982). Where a public body issues a notice extending the period for response to the request under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.235(2)(d), it is required to set forth in the notice the reasons for the extension and the date by which the public body will either grant the request, issue a written notice denying the request, or grant the request in part and issued a written notice denying the request in part. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.235(6). Once a public body timely claims the 10-day extension, the new response deadline is fifteen business days after receipt of the request, regardless of when the notice of extension is issued. Key v. Twp. of Paw Paw, 254 Mich. App. 508, 657 N.W.2d 546 (2002). A public body may not use a loss of time attributed to unnecessary delay by its agents in forwarding the request to the proper person as grounds for extending the time during which the response must be made. 1979-80 Op. Att'y Gen. 255, 269-70 (1979).
There is no case law or statutory law that concludes that delay is recognized as a denial for purposes of appeal, and usually the custodian gives an immediate response with respect to whether the documents will be produced.
Neb. Rev. Stat. §84-712(4) specifically requires an agency to comply with a written request "as soon as is practicable and without delay, but not more than four business days after actual receipt of the request."
The law requires a response from the public agency not later than the end of the fifth business day after the records request is received. NRS 239.0107.
The Statute contains specific time limitations for response to a request for records. "If a public body is unable to make a public record available for immediate inspection and copying, it shall, within 5 business days of request, make such record available, deny the request in writing with reasons, or furnish written acknowledgement of the request and a statement of the time reasonably necessary to determine whether the request shall be granted or denied." RSA 91-A:4, IV. The Supreme Court has held that an agency may be justifiably "unable" to produce a record immediately if it is simply too busy or is understaffed. Brent v. Paquette, 132 N.H. 415 (1989); Gallagher v. Town of Windham, 121 N.H. 156 (1981) (permitting removal for use by government official in discharge of official duties).
The custodian is obligated to permit the inspection immediately or as soon as practicable under the circumstance but not later than 15 days after receiving a written request. NMSA 1978 § 14-2-8(D). If the inspection is not permitted within three (3) business days, the Custodian shall explain in writing when records will be available or when the public body will respond to the request. NMSA 1978 § 14-2-8(D). Excessively burdensome or broad requests may allow the custodian additional time to permit the inspection. NMSA 1978 § 14-2-10.
The Public records law imposes no specific time limits on either requests or responses. G.S. § 132-6 states that a custodian of public records shall make them available “at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision by any person, and shall, as promptly as possible, furnish copies thereof upon payment of any fees as may be prescribed by law.” These standards apparently have not been interpreted by the courts. In counseling members of the North Carolina Press Association concerning the timeliness of requests and responses, the NCPA’s counsel has assumed that the quantity and nature of the documents requested would be considered in determining whether a request was timely and whether the response was reasonably prompt.
The attorney general has said the amount of time within which the public entity must respond to a request is usually measured in hours or a few days rather than several days or weeks. See N.D. Op. Att’y Gen. 98-O-22 (1998).
The statute provides different generalized time frames, depending on whether the requester seeks inspection or copying. The statute requires public offices to "promptly" prepare public records for public inspection and that inspection be permitted "at all reasonable times during regular business hours." The statute requires public offices to make copies of public records available "within a reasonable period of time." Ohio Rev. Code § 149.43(B)(1).
For a public office operating 24 hours a day, "regular business hours" does not require the public records be made available at all times. The office may establish periods of time for public inspection and copying of records that approximate ordinary administrative business hours of ordinary public agencies. State ex rel. Warren Newspapers v. Hutson, 70 Ohio St. 3d 619, 640 N.E.2d 174 (1994).
The court found that a city's delays of up to 24 days to prepare and provide access to requested accident reports were not "prompt" and, thus, justified a writ of mandamus. The court granted the writ of mandamus to compel the city to prepare and provide access to motor vehicle accident reports within eight days after accidents occur, the time frame sought by the requester. State ex rel. Wadd v. City of Cleveland, 81 Ohio St. 3d 50, 689 N.E.2d 25, 1998-Ohio-444; see also State ex rel. Consumer News Servs. Inc. v. Worthington City Bd. of Educ., 97 Ohio St. 3d 58, 776 N.E.2d 82 (2002) (finding that a six-day delay was not prompt, defining "prompt" as without delay and with reasonable speed), State ex rel. Office of Montgomery County Public Defender v. Siroki, 108 Ohio St. 3d 207, 842 N.E.2d 508 (2006) (holding that if an office could produce records in two days, then it should do so).
The Act states that a public body must provide prompt, reasonable access to its records. 51 O.S. § 24A.5.5.
The 2017 statutory amendments to the Public Records Law significantly changed the law’s timing requirements. As amended, ORS 192.324 (formerly ORS 192.440) requires a custodian to acknowledge receipt of or complete the public body’s response to a written records request within five business days. ORS 192.329 further requires a public body to complete its response “as soon as practicable and without delay,” ORS 192.329(1), and establishes a general 15‑business day requirement for completing a records request, although that timing is subject to exceptions. ORS 192.329(5).
Under ORS 192.418(2) (formerly ORS 192.465), the failure of an elected official to deny, grant or deny and grant in part a records request is considered a denial of the request, allowing the requestor to seek court review.
Records must be made available for inspection and copying “at such reasonable time as may be determined by the custodian thereof.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(a). The custodian is required to tell the requester if the records are in active use or in storage, and to make an appointment for the requester “to examine such records as expeditiously as may be made available.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(f).
However, any denial of the right to inspect or copy records must be made by the public body in writing, giving the specific reasons for the denial within ten (10) business days of the request and indicating the procedures for appealing the denial. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(e). Except for good cause shown, any reason not specifically set forth in the denial shall be deemed waived by the public body. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(a).
Failure to comply with a request to inspect or copy the public record within the ten (10) business day period shall be deemed to be a denial. Except that for good cause, this limit may be extended for a period not to exceed thirty (30) business days. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(b).
A public records officer has ten days from receipt of a request to grant, deny or seek additional time. SDCL §1-27-37.
Where a request for public information has been made, the officer for public information “shall promptly produce [such] information for inspection, duplication, or both on application.” Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.221(a); Moore, 897 S.W.2d at 499 (the Act requires officers “to produce public [information] upon request”). An officer for public information complies with the Act by providing the public information for inspection or duplication in the offices of the governmental body or by sending copies of the public information by first class mail. Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.221.
The Act requires a governmental body, in the usual case, to produce requested public information as soon as reasonably possible and without delay. Tex. Att’y Gen. No. ORD-664 (2000). What constitutes a reasonable period of time depends on the facts in each case. Id. The volume of information requested is “highly relevant to what constitutes a reasonable period of time.” Id. A reasonable period of time may be less than or greater than ten business days, depending on the circumstances. Id. For example, a governmental body should be able to comply immediately with a request for one specified document that the governmental body has previously released to the public or that the Attorney General has previously determined to be public information, absent unusual circumstances. Id. On the other hand, a request for a voluminous amount of information which requires an extensive search for responsive information might require more than ten business days for production of the information. Id.
To obtain an expedited response, the requester must demonstrate that the record request benefits the public rather than the individual requester. See id. § 63G-2-204(3)(a). Journalists requesting records for publication or broadcast are presumed to be acting to benefit the public. See id. § 63G-2-204(4).
(iv) notifying the requester that because of the extraordinary circumstances listed [in that section of the statute], it cannot immediately approve or deny the request.
A notice of denial shall include (a) a description of the record; (b) citations to the GRAMA provisions that exempt the record from disclosure; (c) a statement that the requester has a right to appeal the denial; and (d) the time limits for filing an appeal and the name and address of the chief administrative officer of the government entity to which the appeal should be made. See id. § 63G-2-205(2).
Waiting periods under the statute are not lengthy. The custodian ordinarily has three business days to search and respond if the request cannot be filled on the spot. 1 V.S.A. § 318(a)(1). However, any time limit (either the initial three-day response period, or the five-day appeal response period under 1 V.S.A. § 318(c)(1)) may be extended up to ten working days by written certification that one (or more) of three “unusual circumstances” exist: (1) need to search or collect records from field offices; (2) need to search or collect voluminous records; or (3) need to consult with another agency. See 12 V.S.A. § 318(b)(5).
(c) Deny the request stating in writing the reasons for such denial."

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