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What is "redaction," when does it apply, and what costs may be charged for redaction?

"Redaction" is the striking out of specific information from a record.  It is usually shown by blacking out the information in the record.  Some computer generated records may be redacted by downloading or printing out designated fields of information while excluding other fields, such as Social Security numbers.

Records subject to the Open Records Act but that contain some information either not subject to the Act or required to be excluded from production under the Act are produced with the exempted information redacted.  An agency may not refuse to produce records because they contain some information not subject to the Open Records Act.

An agency may charge, however, for the cost of redaction.  Such cost is to be based on the cost associated with the lowest paid employee capable of properly performing the redaction.  The agency should estimate this cost in advance, if it is going to charge such costs, and notify the requestor in advance giving him or her the opportunity to accept such costs or withdraw or modify his or her records request.