Freedom of Information Request ("FOIA")

About Recent Changes To FOIA
On January 15, 2015, Governor Snyder signed into law Public Act 563 of 2014. This act is an extensive amendment to FOIA, MCL 15.231 et seq, that changes various requirements stated in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) such as:
  • Appeals
  • Availability of records to the public maintained on a public body's website
  • Charging and calculating fees
  • Deposits
  • Fee waivers
  • Responding to a request
In addition, this act mandates that a public body may only charge fees if it has established, and makes publicly available, procedures and guidelines for implementing FOIA. This law also states that a public body must create a written public summary of the procedures and guidelines, which must also be available to the public.  Another requirement of Public Act 563 of 2014 is that a public body must use a standard form for detailed itemization of any fee in response to a written request. Included below, and in compliance with Public Act 563 of 2014, the following is available to the public:

Forms

  1. FOIA Appeal Form To Appeal a Denial of Records (PDF)
  2. FOIA Appeal Form To Appeal an Excess Fee (PDF)
  3. FOIA Request for Public Records Form (PDF)
  4. Notice of Denial of FOIA Request Form (PDF)
  5. Notice to Extend Response Time for FOIA Request Form (PDF)

Requests

Requests may be sent by email in the following manner:

  • If seeking public records from the Sheriff's Department, send them an email.
  • If seeking public records from the Health Department, send them an email.
  • If seeking public records from all other County Departments, including the Board of Commissioners and other elected officials, send an email.