What are the permissible responses to a request?
As of July 1, 2007, a public body must make one of the five responses allowed by FOIA: • Provide the requested records to the requester • The requested records are being entirely withheld because their release is prohibited by law or the custodian has exercised his discretion to withhold the records in accordance with FOIA • The requested records are being provided in part and are being withheld in part because the release of part of the records is prohibited by law or the custodian has exercised his discretion to withhold a portion of the records in accordance with FOIA • The requested records could not be found or do not exist. However, if the public body that received the request knows that another public body has the requested records, the response shall include contact information for the other public body; or • It is not practically possible to provide the requested records OR to determine whether they are available within the five-work-day period, and the public body needs an ad
