WAC 478-276-085

(1) Responses generally. The public records office shall respond within five business days of receiving a public records request by:

(a) Providing the records;

(b) Providing an internet address and link to the records on a website;

(c) Acknowledging that the request has been received and providing a reasonable estimate of the time required to respond to the request; or

(d) Denying the request.

(2) Additional time. Additional time for the office to respond to a request may be based upon the need to:

(a) Clarify the request;

(b) Locate, assemble, and review the records requested;

(c) Notify third parties or agencies affected by the request or provide other notifications as required or allowed by law; or

(d) Determine whether any exemptions apply to the records requested or that a denial should be made to all or part of the request.

(3) Request for clarification. If all or part of a public records request is unclear, the public records office may ask the requestor to clarify the request. If the requestor does not respond to a request for clarification or otherwise fails to clarify the records request within 15 business days, the university need not respond to any portion that is unclear. If the entire request is unclear and the requestor does not respond to the request for clarification or otherwise fails to clarify the request within 15 business days, the university may consider the request abandoned and close it in accordance with WAC 478-276-105.

(4) Installments. When it appears that the number of records responsive to a request may be large; that the process of locating, assembling, or reviewing the records may be lengthy; or when it is otherwise appropriate; the public records office may choose to provide records on a partial or installment basis. For the purposes of WAC 478-276-090 through 478-276-105, and unless otherwise provided under these rules, each installment of records shall be treated as a separate public records request.

(5) Customized service charge. Where the public records office deems it appropriate, the university may choose to provide customized services to provide access to public records; however, any requestor seeking such customized services must pay in advance for university staff time and any other direct costs related to providing such a customized service. Because the university maintains records in a wide variety of formats, the viability of providing this service is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.