Records Available & Exceptions

Records Available

Most records maintained by public entities are open for inspection and/or copying by individuals. Commonly requested records include:

  • Budgets
  • Election information
  • Minutes from open meetings
  • Property ownership information & maps
  • Resolutions
  • Recorded Documents
  • Salaries of county employees & public officials
  • Tax statements & payments


Exceptions

The Kansas Open Records Act recognizes that some records contain information that is private in nature. For this reason, the Act lists a number of exceptions. Records that are closed for this reason may include:

  • Personnel information of public employees
  • Medical treatment records
  • Records which are protected by the attorney-client privilege or the rules of evidence
  • Records containing personal information compiled for Census purposes
  • Notes and preliminary drafts
  • Criminal investigation records
  • Several other specific records

For a complete listing of exemptions, see K.S.A. 45-221.

An agency is only required to provide public records that already exist. KORA does not require an agency to create a record upon request. KORA does not require an agency to interpret or analyze records, or to prepare custom reports. KORA stands for Kansas Open Records Act.