Provides for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the.

This bill amends the public officers law to allow for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body. The court may assess these fees against the agency involved under certain conditions, such as when the agency reasonably relied on a published opinion of an appellate court based on substantially similar facts. The act takes effect immediately.

Provides for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in FOIL proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the.

This bill amends the public officers law to allow for the award of reasonable attorneys' fees in Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) proceedings if the person is successful and in open meeting proceedings to the successful petitioner and against the public body. The court may assess these fees against the agency involved under certain conditions, such as when the agency reasonably relied on a published opinion of an appellate court based on substantially similar facts. The act takes effect immediately.