State Information Request

Many government records are public documents – but you have to know how to ask for them.

Iowa's Open Records Law, enacted in 1967, outlines which documents are public in Iowa. The Iowa Freedom of Information Council website http://www.drakejournalism.com/newsite_ifoic/omorh/omorh.htm, has links to open records and open meetings laws.

The U.S. Department of Justice provides this information the federal Freedom of Information Act: http://www.foia.gov/

This template for a state information request is a good place to start.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Information Officer/Records Custodian

Name of organization

Address of organization

This is a request for copies of public records under Iowa's Open Records Act (Chapter 22).

Please provide the following information:

(Describe records you are seeking.)

If you determine that portions of the requested records are exempt from release, please delete the material that you believe is exempt and provide me access to the remaining, non-exempt material.

If you deny this request, or a portion of it, please list the specific exemptions you are relying on (Section 22.7 of the Act) to justify that denial. In addition, please provide me with the name and address of the head of your public body to whom I can appeal any denial.

I am prepared to pay reasonable copying costs for reproducing the requested material.

I look forward to hearing from you within 10 working days of your receipt of this request.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your name