{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3704.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3704.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3704.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3704.1.html"}],"law_id":85069,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85069,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.1","catch_line":"Posting of notice of rights and responsibilities by state and local public bodies; assistance by the Freedom of Information Advisory Council","history":"2004, c. 730; 2009, c. 626; 2014, c. 421; 2016, c. 748; 2017, cc. 645, 778; 2022, c. 756; 2023, c. 599.","full_text":"A\n\nAll state public bodies subject to the provisions of this chapter, any county or city, any town with a population of more than 250, and any school board shall make available the following information to the public upon request and shall post a link to such information on the homepage of their respective official public government websites:1\n\nA plain English explanation of the rights of a requester under this chapter, the procedures to obtain public records from the public body, and the responsibilities of the public body in complying with this chapter. For purposes of this section, “plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession;2\n\nContact information for the FOIA officer designated by the public body pursuant to § 2.2-3704.2 to (i) assist a requester in making a request for records or (ii) respond to requests for public records;3\n\nA general description, summary, list, or index of the types of public records maintained by such public body;4\n\nA general description, summary, list, or index of any exemptions in law that permit or require such public records to be withheld from release;5\n\nAny policy the public body has concerning the type of public records it routinely withholds from release as permitted by this chapter or other law;6\n\nThe following statement: “A public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records and shall make all reasonable efforts to supply the requested records at the lowest possible cost. No public body shall impose any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the public body. Any duplicating fee charged by a public body shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. Prior to conducting a search for records, the public body shall notify the requester in writing that the public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records and inquire of the requester whether he would like to request a cost estimate in advance of the supplying of the requested records as set forth in subsection F of § 2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia.”; and7\n\nA written policy (i) explaining how the public body assesses charges for accessing or searching for requested records and (ii) noting the current fee charged, if any, for accessing and searching for such requested records.B\n\nAny state public body subject to the provisions of this chapter and any county or city, and any town with a population of more than 250, shall post a link on its official public government website to the online public comment form on the Freedom of Information Advisory Council’s website to enable any requester to comment on the quality of assistance provided to the requester by the public body.C\n\nThe Freedom of Information Advisory Council, created pursuant to § 30-178, shall assist in the development and implementation of the provisions of subsection A, upon request.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304874,"text":"All state public bodies subject to the provisions of this chapter, any county or city, any town with a population of more than 250, and any school board shall make available the following information to the public upon request and shall post a link to such information on the homepage of their respective official public government websites:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":304875,"text":"A plain English explanation of the rights of a requester under this chapter, the procedures to obtain public records from the public body, and the responsibilities of the public body in complying with this chapter. For purposes of this section, “plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":304876,"text":"Contact information for the FOIA officer designated by the public body pursuant to § 2.2-3704.2 to (i) assist a requester in making a request for records or (ii) respond to requests for public records;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":304877,"text":"A general description, summary, list, or index of the types of public records maintained by such public body;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":304878,"text":"A general description, summary, list, or index of any exemptions in law that permit or require such public records to be withheld from release;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":304879,"text":"Any policy the public body has concerning the type of public records it routinely withholds from release as permitted by this chapter or other law;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":304880,"text":"The following statement: “A public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records and shall make all reasonable efforts to supply the requested records at the lowest possible cost. No public body shall impose any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the public body. Any duplicating fee charged by a public body shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. Prior to conducting a search for records, the public body shall notify the requester in writing that the public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records and inquire of the requester whether he would like to request a cost estimate in advance of the supplying of the requested records as set forth in subsection F of § 2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia.”; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":304881,"text":"A written policy (i) explaining how the public body assesses charges for accessing or searching for requested records and (ii) noting the current fee charged, if any, for accessing and searching for such requested records.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"B"},"8":{"id":304882,"text":"Any state public body subject to the provisions of this chapter and any county or city, and any town with a population of more than 250, shall post a link on its official public government website to the online public comment form on the Freedom of Information Advisory Council’s website to enable any requester to comment on the quality of assistance provided to the requester by the public body.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"C"},"9":{"id":304883,"text":"The Freedom of Information Advisory Council, created pursuant to § 30-178, shall assist in the development and implementation of the provisions of subsection A, upon request.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12976,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Freedom of Information Act","identifier":"37","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12751,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","permalink":{"id":176447,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12976,"identifier":"37","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/37\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12751,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transaction of Public Business","identifier":"B","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12750,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176445,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12751,"identifier":"B","token":"2.2\/II\/B","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12750,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of State Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176253,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12750,"identifier":"II","token":"2.2\/II","url":"\/2.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55569,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","url":"\/2.2-3700\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3700","metadata":false},{"id":62411,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3701","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-3701\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3701","metadata":false},{"id":84993,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3702","catch_line":"Notice of chapter","url":"\/2.2-3702\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3702","metadata":false},{"id":72501,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3703","catch_line":"Public bodies and records to which chapter inapplicable; voter registration and election records; access by persons incarcerated in a state, local, or federal correctional facility","url":"\/2.2-3703\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3703","metadata":false},{"id":65525,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3703.1","catch_line":"Disclosure pursuant to court order or subpoena","url":"\/2.2-3703.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3703.1","metadata":false},{"id":55816,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704","catch_line":"Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc","url":"\/2.2-3704\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704","metadata":false},{"id":59602,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.01","catch_line":"Records containing both excluded and nonexcluded information; duty to redact","url":"\/2.2-3704.01\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.01","metadata":false},{"id":85069,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.1","catch_line":"Posting of notice of rights and responsibilities by state and local public bodies; assistance by the Freedom of Information Advisory Council","url":"\/2.2-3704.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.1","metadata":false},{"id":71452,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.2","catch_line":"Public bodies to designate FOIA officer","url":"\/2.2-3704.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.2","metadata":false},{"id":84504,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.3","catch_line":"Training for local officials","url":"\/2.2-3704.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.3","metadata":false},{"id":86102,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3705\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705","metadata":false},{"id":72874,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.1","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; exclusions of general application to public bodies","url":"\/2.2-3705.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.1","metadata":false},{"id":67553,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.2","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to public safety","url":"\/2.2-3705.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.2","metadata":false},{"id":77912,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.3","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to administrative investigations","url":"\/2.2-3705.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.3","metadata":false},{"id":69909,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.4","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; educational records and certain records of educational institutions","url":"\/2.2-3705.4\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.4","metadata":false},{"id":60253,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.5","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; health and social services records","url":"\/2.2-3705.5\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.5","metadata":false},{"id":59772,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.6","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; proprietary records and trade secrets","url":"\/2.2-3705.6\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.6","metadata":false},{"id":79544,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.7","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions","url":"\/2.2-3705.7\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.7","metadata":false},{"id":59878,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.8","catch_line":"Limitation on record exclusions","url":"\/2.2-3705.8\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.8","metadata":false},{"id":76628,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3706","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement and criminal records; limitations","url":"\/2.2-3706\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3706","metadata":false},{"id":78370,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3706.1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement records; criminal incident information and certain criminal investigative files; limitations","url":"\/2.2-3706.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3706.1","metadata":false},{"id":58697,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707","catch_line":"Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes","url":"\/2.2-3707\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707","metadata":false},{"id":58814,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.01","catch_line":"Meetings of the General Assembly","url":"\/2.2-3707.01\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.01","metadata":false},{"id":79260,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.02","catch_line":"Meetings of Virginia Parole Board","url":"\/2.2-3707.02\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.02","metadata":false},{"id":66397,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.1","catch_line":"Posting of minutes for state boards and commissions","url":"\/2.2-3707.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.1","metadata":false},{"id":58470,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.2","catch_line":"Posting of minutes for local public bodies","url":"\/2.2-3707.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.2","metadata":false},{"id":87037,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3708\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708","metadata":false},{"id":55165,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3708.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.1","metadata":false},{"id":78376,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.2","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency","url":"\/2.2-3708.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.2","metadata":false},{"id":54063,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.3","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means; situations other than declared states of emergency","url":"\/2.2-3708.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.3","metadata":false},{"id":84465,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3709","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/2.2-3709\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3709","metadata":false},{"id":66505,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3710","catch_line":"Transaction of public business other than by votes at meetings prohibited","url":"\/2.2-3710\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3710","metadata":false},{"id":72789,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3711","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Closed meetings authorized for certain limited purposes","url":"\/2.2-3711\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3711","metadata":false},{"id":54622,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3712","catch_line":"Closed meetings procedures; certification of proceedings","url":"\/2.2-3712\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3712","metadata":false},{"id":69183,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3713","catch_line":"Proceedings for enforcement of chapter","url":"\/2.2-3713\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3713","metadata":false},{"id":73159,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3714","catch_line":"Violations and penalties","url":"\/2.2-3714\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3714","metadata":false},{"id":71321,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3715","catch_line":"Effect of advisory opinions from the Freedom of Information Advisory Council on liability for willful and knowing violations","url":"\/2.2-3715\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3715","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59602,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.01","catch_line":"Records containing both excluded and nonexcluded information; 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This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 730<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2009, chapter 626<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 421<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 748<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 645<\/a> and 778<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 756<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 599<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":70810,"section_number":"30-179","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Council","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-179\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55816,"section_number":"2.2-3704","catch_line":"Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3704\/"},{"id":71452,"section_number":"2.2-3704.2","catch_line":"Public bodies to designate FOIA officer","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3704.2\/"},{"id":60080,"section_number":"30-178","catch_line":"Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council; membership; terms; quorum; expenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-178\/"}],"permalink":{"id":176477,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85069,"identifier":"2.2-3704.1","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.1","url":"\/2.2-3704.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3704.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Posting of notice of rights and responsibilities by state and local public bodies; assistance by the Freedom of Information Advisory Council","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3704.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> All state public bodies<\/span> subject to the provisions of this chapter, any county or city, any town with a population of more than 250, and any school board shall make available the following information to the public upon request and shall post a link to such information on the homepage of their respective official public government websites<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A plain English<\/span> explanation of the rights of a requester under this chapter, the procedures to obtain public records<\/span> from the public body<\/span>, and the responsibilities of the public body<\/span> in complying with this chapter. For purposes of this section, “plain English<\/span>” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Contact information for the FOIA officer designated by the public body<\/span> pursuant to § 2.2-3704.2<\/a> to (i) assist a requester in making a request for records or (ii) respond to requests for public records<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A general description, summary, list, or index of the types of public records<\/span> maintained by such public body<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> A general description, summary, list, or index of any exemptions in law<\/span> that permit or require such public records<\/span> to be withheld from release; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Any policy the public body<\/span> has concerning the type of public records<\/span> it routinely withholds from release as permitted by this chapter or other law<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The following statement: “A public body<\/span> may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records and shall make all reasonable efforts to supply the requested records at the lowest possible cost. No public body<\/span> shall impose any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the public body<\/span>. Any duplicating fee charged by a public body<\/span> shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. Prior to conducting a search for records, the public body<\/span> shall notify the requester in writing that the public body<\/span> may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records and inquire of the requester whether he would like to request a cost estimate in advance of the supplying of the requested records as set forth in subsection F of § 2.2-3704<\/a> of the Code of Virginia.”; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> A written policy (i) explaining how the public body<\/span> assesses charges for accessing or searching for requested records and (ii) noting the current fee charged, if any, for accessing and searching for such requested records. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any state public body<\/span> subject to the provisions of this chapter and any county or city, and any town with a population of more than 250, shall post a link on its official public government website<\/span> to the online public comment form on the Freedom of Information Advisory Council’s website to enable any requester to comment on the quality of assistance provided to the requester by the public body<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Freedom of Information Advisory Council, created pursuant to § 30-178<\/a>, shall assist in the development and implementation of the provisions of subsection A, upon request. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOSTING OF NOTICE OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES BY STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC\nBODIES; ASSISTANCE BY THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (\u00a7\n2.2-3704.1)\n\nA. All state public bodies subject to the provisions of this chapter, any county\nor city, any town with a population of more than 250, and any school board shall\nmake available the following information to the public upon request and shall\npost a link to such information on the homepage of their respective official\npublic government websites:\n\n 1. A plain English explanation of the rights of a requester under this\n chapter, the procedures to obtain public records from the public body, and the\n responsibilities of the public body in complying with this chapter. For\n purposes of this section, “plain English” means written in\n nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday\n usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art\n whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or\n profession;\n\n 2. Contact information for the FOIA officer designated by the public body\n pursuant to § 2.2-3704.2 to (i) assist a requester in making a request\n for records or (ii) respond to requests for public records;\n\n 3. A general description, summary, list, or index of the types of public\n records maintained by such public body;\n\n 4. A general description, summary, list, or index of any exemptions in law\n that permit or require such public records to be withheld from release;\n\n 5. Any policy the public body has concerning the type of public records it\n routinely withholds from release as permitted by this chapter or other law;\n\n 6. The following statement: “A public body may make reasonable charges\n not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying,\n or searching for the requested records and shall make all reasonable efforts\n to supply the requested records at the lowest possible cost. No public body\n shall impose any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to\n recoup the general costs associated with creating or maintaining records or\n transacting the general business of the public body. Any duplicating fee\n charged by a public body shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication.\n Prior to conducting a search for records, the public body shall notify the\n requester in writing that the public body may make reasonable charges not to\n exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or\n searching for requested records and inquire of the requester whether he would\n like to request a cost estimate in advance of the supplying of the requested\n records as set forth in subsection F of § 2.2-3704 of the Code of\n Virginia.”; and\n\n 7. A written policy (i) explaining how the public body assesses charges for\n accessing or searching for requested records and (ii) noting the current fee\n charged, if any, for accessing and searching for such requested records.\n\nB. Any state public body subject to the provisions of this chapter and any\ncounty or city, and any town with a population of more than 250, shall post a\nlink on its official public government website to the online public comment form\non the Freedom of Information Advisory Council’s website to enable any\nrequester to comment on the quality of assistance provided to the requester by\nthe public body.\n\nC. The Freedom of Information Advisory Council, created pursuant to §\n30-178, shall assist in the development and implementation of the provisions of\nsubsection A, upon request.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, c. 730; 2009, c. 626; 2014, c. 421; 2016, c. 748; 2017, cc. 645,\n778; 2022, c. 756; 2023, c. 599.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}