PURPOSE: This rule outlines the policy regarding the release of information on any meetings, committee records or votes in compliance with sections 610.010–610.030, RSMo.

1. (1) The State Committee for Social Workers is a public governmental body as defined in Chapter 610, RSMo and adopts the following as the written policy for compliance with the provisions of that chapter. This policy is open to public inspection and implements Chapter 610, RSMo provisions regarding the release of information of any meeting, records or votes of the committee which are not closed under the chapter or any other applicable state or federal law.
2. (2) All public records of the committee shall be open for inspection and copying by any member of the general public during normal business hours except for those records closed pursuant to the provisions of sections 610.021 and 620.010.14(7), RSMo or any other applicable state or federal law. All public meetings of the committee will be open to the public unless authorized to be closed in accordance with state or federal law.
3. (3) The committee establishes the director of the Division of Professional Registration or the director’s designated representative as the custodian of its records as required by section 610.023, RSMo. The director or designee is responsible for maintaining committee records and responding to requests for access to public records.

4. (4) The committee shall charge a reasonable fee, pursuant to the rules promulgated by the committee, for the cost of researching, inspecting and copying the records. Charges and payments of the fees shall be based on the following:

   1. (A) A fee for copying public records shall not exceed the actual cost of the document search and duplication;
   2. (B) The committee may require payment of fees prior to making the copies; and
   3. (C) All fees collected shall be remitted to the Director of Revenue for deposit to the credit of the Clinical Social Work Fund.
5. (5) The custodian shall maintain a file of copies of all written requests for access to records and responses to the requests. That file shall be maintained as a public record open for inspection by any member of the general public during regular business hours.

AUTHORITY: section 337.627, RSMo Supp. 2018, and sections 610.010–610.200, RSMo 2016, RSMo Supp. 2017, and RSMo Supp. 2018.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 263-1.016. Original rule filed Jan. 20, 1999, effective July 30, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2263- 1.016, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Feb. 8, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 337.627, RSMo 1989, amended 1993, 1995, 1997 and 610.010– 610.200, please see Missouri Revised Statutes 2016 and Missouri Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement 2018.