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FOI Oklahoma Presents Awards At Sunshine Conference, Discusses Open Records Law

FOI Oklahoma logo.
FOI Oklahoma

Freedom of Information Oklahoma presented an administrator with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, a state lawmaker and a persistent former University of Oklahoma student with its top awards at the organization's Sunshine Week program.

The group also acknowledged the Black Hole for damaging access to public information when it met Saturday.

William Young, administrator of the office of public information for the ODL, was presented the Marian Opala First Amendment Award.

Republican state Rep. Bobby Cleveland of Slaughterville received the Sunshine Award that goes to a state agency or public official.

Joey Stipek, former online editor of the OU Oklahoma Daily, won the Ben Blackstock Award for his persistence and determination that led to the University of Oklahoma providing public access to parking citations. The award goes to a member of the public and is named for the retired Oklahoma Press Association's executive director.

The Black Hole recognition went to Judge Howard Haralson for closing his courtroom for all but three days of the 10-week divorce trial of billionaire Oklahoma oilman Harold Hamm.

The conference also discussed Oklahoma's Open Records law that requires prompt and reasonable compliance with requests from the public, but the act doesn't define exactly what "prompt and reasonable" means.

While some agencies can comply with requests within hours, other state entities have taken months to respond.

Records requests submitted to the governor's office and several state agencies by The Associated Press over last April's botched execution of an Oklahoma inmate have yet to be filled.

Governor Mary Fallin's spokesman Alex Weintz says the office takes the law seriously, but also says some requests require tens of thousands of documents to be read to make sure sensitive and protected material isn't released.

Mark Thomas of the Oklahoma Press Association says agencies should be prompt, but those requesting the records should be patient, especially for labor-intensive requests.

Note: KGOU is a member of FOI Oklahoma, and General Manager, Karen Holp, serves on the board of directors.

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