Depending on the records requested, means of locating requested records, and how they are delivered, there may or may not be a fee associated. Those circumstances are outlined below.
OCI endeavors to provide electronic copies of records without fee, via email. However, in rare instances, specialized skills, equipment, or technology may be required and may result in copy costs. In such instances, OCI will inform the requestor of the anticipated cost in advance.
There may be a location fee:
- OCI will only impose a location fee if the cost of location alone is more than $50. This calculation includes searching for and identifying responsive records, but does not include redaction
- An hourly charge may be imposed for staff time necessary to locate records.
- The hourly charge is $14.54, based on the hourly rate and benefits of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task.
- In rare circumstances, an employee with special skills may be necessary to conduct a search, and a higher hourly rate may be assessed.
For electronic copies (email, PDF files, DVDs, flash drives, other electronic formats):
- OCI may recover the cost of physical medium used to provide electronic records:
For hard copies (paper records provided by copying a paper record or printing an electronic record):
- $0.0135 per page (black and white)
- $0.0632 per page (color)
- In rare instances specialized skills, equipment, or technology may result in additional copy costs.
For mailing records:
- OCI may charge the actual, necessary, and direct costs for the mailing of records.