Georgia passes new open records law impacting public school athletics

A bill allowing public school athletic departments in Georgia to have increased time to respond to open records requests was signed into law by governor Nathan Deal on Monday.

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A bill allowing public school athletic departments in Georgia to have increased time to respond to open records requests was signed into law by governor Nathan Deal on Monday, reportsThe Athens Banner-Herald’s Marc Weiszer.

The law, which impacts the University of Georgia, provides up to 90 business days to respond to open records requests, as opposed to the three business days that were previously granted. The reported reason for the amendment concerns requests for recruiting information.​

“This is an economic development bill and the governor supported the inclusion of the language regarding athletics,” said Jen Talaber Ryan, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for communications. “It simply levels the playing field with other states that also have strong athletic programs like Georgia.”​

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Other states, like Alabama, do not require specific time frames to respond to requests. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart discussed these differences when he visited the state capitol on Feb. 23.

“I was asked what’s the difference in our program and some programs I’ve been in at the past,” Smart said. “One of the things I brought up is there’s a difference. That was the extent of my conversation with those guys about that.”

Before the bill was passed in the Senate, Georgia’s lieutenant governor Casey Cagle said it has title implications for the Bulldogs.

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“I hope it brings us a national championship is what I hope,” Cagle said.