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FOIA Procedures and Guidelines Summary

FOIA Procedures and Guidelines Summary

A. How to Submit Written Requests

Requests for records regarding the State Lottery and Charitable Gaming must be submitted separately.

Requests for records regarding the State Lottery can be sent to:

                  Michigan Bureau of State Lottery

                  Lottery FOIA Coordinator

                  101 E. Hillsdale, Box 30023

                  Lansing, MI 48909

     Email:  MSL-FOIA@michigan.gov

                    

 Requests for records regarding Charitable Gaming can be sent to:

                  Michigan Bureau of State Lottery

                  Charitable Gaming FOIA Coordinator

                  101 E. Hillsdale, Box 30023

                  Lansing, MI 48909

     Email:  MSL-CGFOIA@michigan.gov

 Requests must include your name, phone number, mailing address, and email address.

 

 B. How to Understand the Bureau’s Written Response

The Bureau has several options when responding to written requests for public records. It can grant the FOIA request, deny the request, grant it in part and deny it in part, or take one 10 business day extension. After 10 business days, the Bureau must respond with one of the other options.

If the request is granted or granted in part and denied in part, the Bureau can also charge a fee to process the request. Fees are calculated using the procedures and guidelines and you will receive a detailed itemization of the fee. The Bureau may require you to pay a good-faith deposit before it processes your request. There is no fee for requests that do not incur costs above $20.00.

After you pay any deposit and the final balance due, the Bureau will produce non-exempt records in its possession that fall within the scope of your request and that legally may be disclosed to the public. The Bureau may also notify you that some of the records you have requested are available on its website.

If the request is denied, in full or in part, the Bureau will inform you of the basis for its denial in a written notice. Reasons the Bureau may deny a request include: 

  1. You did not describe the records you are requesting well enough for the Bureau to determine what you are requesting;
  2. The Bureau has determined that it does not have records that respond to your request in its possession; or
  3. The records you have requested are exempt from public disclosure.

The Bureau will inform you of your right to appeal its denial to the head of the Bureau and/or to file a lawsuit against the Bureau in its written response.

C. Deposit Requirements

If the processing fee is greater than $50.00, the Bureau will require you to pay a good-faith 50% deposit before providing the requested records. Any written notice containing a deposit requirement will include a best-efforts estimate of the time it will take the Bureau to provide the records after the deposit is received. The estimated time is not binding on the Bureau, but the Bureau will provide the estimated time in good faith, strive to be reasonably accurate in its estimate, and provide the public records in a manner consistent with the State’s public policy and the nature of the particular request.

D. Fee Calculations

The FOIA permits the Bureau to charge a fee to process FOIA requests using a form to give you a detailed itemization of the costs involved. The Bureau may charge for the following costs: 

  1. the costs of labor for the search, location, and examination of public records;
  2. the costs of labor for the review of public records and separation and deletion of exempt from nonexempt material;
  3. the cost of nonpaper physical media;
  4. the cost of duplication and publication of public records;
  5. the costs of labor for the duplication or publication of public records;
  6. the actual cost of mailing public records.

E. Avenues for Challenge and Appeal

If the Bureau charges a fee or denies all or part of a request, you may submit a written appeal to the Lottery Commissioner that specifically states the word “APPEAL” and identifies the basis for which the fee should be reduced or the denial should be reversed. Written appeals must be sent to the mailing address listed above and will be forwarded to the Commissioner or the person designated by the Commissioner to respond to written appeals.

F. Transparency Liaison

Executive Directive 2019-11 requires state department or autonomous agency designate an individual to serve as a transparency liaison for the department.  The transparency liaison assist the public in accessing department records through the Freedom of Information Act process.  The transparency liaison acts as an advocate for the disclosure of public records and for transparency and procedures that encourage public participation in public meetings.  The transparency liaison also assists individuals seeking to participate in public meetings. 

If you have questions about, or seek assistance with, the filing of an Lottery FOIA process, participating in an Lottery public meetings, or another open government issue, please contact the Lottery’s Transparency Liaison by mail or email at:

                            Michigan Bureau of State Lottery

                            Attn: Transparency Liaison

                            101 E. Hillsdale Street

                            Lansing, MI 48933

                Email: MSL-Transparency@michigan.gov

To facilitate a response, requests should include a name, phone number, mailing address, and email address.