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.