A new nationwide analysis shows Oregon government agencies take an average of 148 days to respond to public records requests, the worst lag time in the country.
The study by MuckRock found the quickest response times in Vermont, Idaho and Rhode Island, each averaging 15 days for their state agencies to respond.
Journalists, lawyers and the general public, of course, find this frustrating, most especially because Oregon law only allows public agencies 15 days to respond to public records requests.. But, Oregon’s laws also allow agencies to put off responding for any number or reasons, including a backlog of requests. Oregon’s public agencies routinely disregard the 15 day deadline.
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