Policies

RECORDS CUSTODIAN

The Board’s Executive Director or designee will be considered the custodian for purposes of compliance with the Public Records Law.


PROCESSING TIMES FOR PHYSICAL RECORDS

As the Board continues its progress toward near-paperless and all-digital records, please note that some records are still pending digitization and may not be immediately available. Fulfillment of requests for paper-based records will require additional time for scanning/copying.

 

COMPLEX REQUESTS

To avoid delays, please submit separate requests for each department or type of record requested. Multi-part requests cannot be processed.

 

REQUEST DESCRIPTIONS

In the space under “Request Description,” please describe the records you seek. If your request is contained in an attachment, it must also be stated in the space provided on this form. Submissions with incomplete Request Description fields cannot be processed.

 

AMBIGUOUS, BROAD, OR BURDENSOME REQUESTS

If, after initial review, the Board deems your request ambiguous or overly broad/burdensome, we will contact you through this portal to inquire regarding the specificity of the records sought. You will also receive an email notification of our inquiry. Failure to respond to an inquiry within two weeks will result in administrative closure of your request.


  • Pursuant to R.S. 44:32(A), your request may be denied if, after reasonable attempts to narrow or specify the request, the Board reasonably determines that your request would substantially disrupt required government operations.

INVOICES AND PAYMENT

You will be invoiced through this portal for any applicable fees related to your request (see "Fee Schedule" below). You will also receive an email notification of the invoice. Failure to pay an invoice within two weeks will result in administrative closure of your request.


CONTENT MODERATION

Prior to posting, requests will be reviewed and possibly edited or rejected, consistent with the following policy.


  • Submissions will be edited to redact or remove sensitive and/or confidential information, such as social security numbers, dates of birth, or other information the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
  • Any submission that is not a request for public records will not be posted.
  • Submissions containing profanity, obscenity, racial slurs, hate speech, or other discriminatory language will not be posted.

FEE SCHEDULE


Reproduction of Records: If you request paper or electronic copies of Board records, you understand that there may be charges for duplication of these specific records. Pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C), records will be released upon payment for reproduced records, subject to the following fee schedule, unless otherwise provided for by state law or Board policy.


  • Copies (paper or PDF): $0.50 per one-sided page.
  • Other electronic formats: base fee of $25 for records plus actual cost of storage media.
  • Delivery: Additional delivery/postage fees may apply depending on form and/or bulk of delivery.
  • Additional Fees: Additional service fees may apply depending on the scope of the request.
  • Credit Card processing fees will apply.

Examination of Records: No fee shall be charged to any person to examine or review any public records in-person at SWBNO offices/facilities during regular office or working hours. If you wish to examine records in person, please indicate so in your request or via message through this portal. A staff member will then contact you to schedule an appointment.


After-Hours Examination: If it is reasonably determined that your request would substantially disrupt operations, the Board may, at its discretion, authorize examination of records in other than regular office or working hours. Pursuant to R.S. 44:32(A)(1), in this event, the persons designated to represent the Board during such examination shall be entitled to reasonable compensation, at their standard overtime rates, out of funds provided in advance by the requestor.