A.
Except
as otherwise provided by law, each public governmental body shall
provide access to and, upon request, furnish copies of public records
subject to the following:
1.
Fees for copying public records, except those records restricted
under Section 32.091, RSMo., shall not exceed ten cents ($.10) per
page for a paper copy not larger than nine (9) by fourteen (14) inches,
with the hourly fee of eighteen dollars fifty cents ($18.50) per hour
for duplicating time. Research time required for fulfilling records
requests may be charged at the actual cost of research time. Based
on the scope of the request, the public governmental body shall produce
the copies using employees of the body that result in the lowest amount
of charges for search, research, and duplication time. Prior to producing
copies of the requested records, the person requesting the records
may request the public governmental body to provide an estimate of
the cost to the person requesting the records. Documents may be furnished
without charge or at a reduced charge when the public governmental
body determines that waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public
interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public
understanding of the operations or activities of the public governmental
body and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.
2.
Fees for providing access to public records maintained on computer
facilities, recording tapes or disks, videotapes or films, pictures,
maps, slides, graphics, illustrations or similar audio or visual items
or devices, and for paper copies larger than nine (9) by fourteen
(14) inches shall include only the cost of copies, staff time, which
shall not exceed the average hourly rate of pay for staff of the public
governmental body required for making copies and programming, if necessary,
and the cost of the disk, tape or other medium used for the duplication.
Fees for maps, blueprints, or plats that require special expertise
to duplicate may include the actual rate of compensation for the trained
personnel required to duplicate such maps, blueprints, or plats. If
programming is required beyond the customary and usual level to comply
with a request for records or information, the fees for compliance
may include the actual cost of such programming.
B.
Payment
of such copying fees may be requested prior to the making of copies.
