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South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
FOIA requests:
Persons have the right to inspect, copy or receive non-exempt public records in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10, et seq.
Ways to submit a FOIA request:
Richland County Ombudsman’s Office
P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29204
Fax: (803) 929-6009
FOIA fees:
As provided by S.C. Code § 30-4-30(b), a public body may establish and collect reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost of the search, retrieval, copying and redaction of records. Production fees are listed in the County’s fee schedule. A deposit not to exceed 25 percent of the total reasonably anticipated cost for reproduction of the records may be required prior to the County searching for or making copies of records. The total cost must be paid in full in order to receive non-exempt responsive records.
Richland County Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule:
| Service |
Fee |
| a. Copying fee |
$0.25/page |
|
A charge shall be levied for each hard copy made by copier or computer printer. If information is emailed, the copying fee does not apply.
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|
| b. Records research |
Gross hourly rate |
|
Hourly fee based on the gross hourly rate, pro-rated, of the lowest paid employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the custodian of records, has the necessary skill and training to perform the request. This time shall include any time for making hard copies of records for the requestor.
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|
| c. Information provided by fax |
Gross hourly rate |
|
Hourly fee based on the gross hourly rate, pro-rated, of the lowest paid Ombudsman’s Office employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the Ombudsman or its designee, has the necessary skill and training to perform the request.
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| d. Email search programming fees |
Gross hourly rate |
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Hourly fee based on the gross hourly rate, pro-rated, of the lowest paid IT employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the IT director or its designee, has the necessary skill and training to design and enter the criteria for the requested records and to retrieve the information.
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| e. Computer media (CD) |
$5.00/CD |
| f. Public inspection |
Gross hourly rate |
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Hourly fee based on the gross hourly rate, pro-rated, of the lowest paid employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the custodian of records, has the necessary skill and training to make records available for public inspection. The rate shall be charged for the entire time the records are open for inspection and the employee has control of the records for inspection.
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| g. Redactions |
Gross hourly rate |
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Hourly fee based on the gross hourly rate, pro-rated, of the lowest paid employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the custodian of the records, has the necessary skill and training to perform the redactions.
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Commercial Solicitation
Pursuant to S.C. Code § 30-2-50
(A) A person or private entity shall not knowingly obtain or use personal information obtained from a state agency, local government, or other political subdivision of the state for commercial solicitation directed to any person in this state.
(D) A person knowingly violating the provisions of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined an amount not to exceed $500 or imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
***Based on this statute, requestors should acknowledge if a FOIA request is being made for Commercial Solicitation purposes. Accordingly, Richland County may require a Commercial Solicitation acknowledgement from FOIA requestors prior to non-exempt responsive documents being released.