Public Records Process Survey
The First Amendment Foundation and the National Freedom of Information Coalition have
teamed with a group of journalism students at the University of Florida on a statewide project
trying to gauge the cost to state agencies and local governments of providing public records on
pursuant to chapter 119, F.S., Florida’s Public Records Act.
We would like to survey you about your agency’s practices and policies regarding public record
requests. This survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. For all questions, your
best numerical estimate or response is sufficient. Thank you for participating.
If you have any questions, please email us at FloridaPRRs@gmail.com
1. What county does your agency operate in? (Choose State of Florida if you represent a state
agency).
2. What is the name of your agency?
3. Approximately how many employees work for your agency? (provide integer in the answer
space)
4. Of the total number of full-time employees, approximately how many are directly involved with
providing access to public records? (provide integer in the answer space)
5. Between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016, approximately how many public record
requests (PRR) did your agency receive? Please be sure to include those requests received in
writing, via email, as well as all verbal requests.
● None
● More than one but less than 50
● More than 50 but less than 100
● More than 100 but less than 250
● More than 250
● We receive PRRs, but I don’t know the number.
● We do not collect this data
6. What is the average fee paid by requestors for copies of public records per request?
● None. Our agency does not charge for copies of public records.
● Less than $10
● Less than $50
● Less than $100
● We collect fees, but the I don’t know the amount per request

 ●

We do not collect this data

7. If your agency charges fees for providing copies of public records have those fees increased,
decreased or stayed the same over the last two years?
● Increased
● Decreased
● Stayed the same
● I don’t know
8. What percentage of the cost of providing access to public records does your agency recoup?
● None. Our agency does not charge for copies of public records.
● Less than 10% of the cost
● Less than 25% of the cost
● Less than 50% of the cost
● Less than 100% of the cost
● We recoup 100% of the costs
● I don’t know
9. Does your agency including within its annual budget the cost for personnel and IT time
required to respond to public record requests?
● Yes
● No
● I don’t know
10. If your agency budgets for costs involved in responding to public record requests,
approximately how much is budgeted annually? (provide integer in the answer space)
This question was removed due to an error in the survey's data validator.

11. Does your agency provide written estimates of the costs associated with providing access to
public records prior to production of the requested records?
● Yes
● No
● I don't know
12. Would you say public records fees charged by your agency are consistent across all
departments within the agency?
●
●
●

Yes. All departments adhere to the same fee policies
No. Each agency has discretion for what or how to charge for public records
I don’t know

13. Does your agency have a designated public record custodian?

 ●
●
●

Yes
No
I don't know

14. If your agency has a designated public record custodian, is contact information for the public
record custodian posted on your agency’s website?
● Yes
● No
● I don't know
● Our agency doesn’t have a website
15. Does your agency have a written public record access policy?
● Yes
● No
● I don't know
16. If your agency has a written public record access policy, is that policy posted on your
agency’s website?
● Yes
● No
● I don't know
● Our agency doesn't have a website
17. Please provide the name and contact information for the person who completed this survey
(not required).