Section 31May 21, 2007, Sec./Art. 31

Grounds for Determining Access Status. - (a) In classifying the access status of a public record under Section 30, the head of the controlling government office shall consider existing rules and regulations on classified records.

(b) If there are no good reasons to restrict public access under subsection (a) , or if no legal impediment exists that requires a public record to be withheld from public access, the head of the controlling government office shall classify the record as an open access record.

(c) If there are good reasons for restricting public access under subsection (a) , or if such legal impediment exists requiring such public record to be withheld from public access, the head of the controlling government office shall, in consu1tation.with the executive director, determine the necessity to restrict public access to the public record for a specified period of time or permit such public access with conditions.

(d) The head of a controlling government agency may, at any time, in consultation with the executive director, vary or withdraw a condition imposed on public access records.

(e) A public record subject to a restriction under subsection (c) becomes an open access record on the withdrawal of the restriction.

(f) National Archives shall comply with the conditions of public access imposed under subsection (c) .

(g) A restriction on public access to a public record shall be noted in the Public Access Registry, in accordance with Section 15(e) (l) of this Act.

(h) Every controlling government office is responsible for dealing with requests for official and personal information under the existing laws and regulations on access to classified matters.