The Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq) grants you the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records created or maintained by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. It is the public policy of the state that public records shall be open for inspection by any person. Public records include any recorded information regardless of form, characteristics, or location, that is made, maintained or kept by or is in the possession of KDWP. 

KDWP adopted this policy and procedure to provide you with an explanation of your rights, your responsibilities, and the procedures to be followed in requesting access to and obtaining copies of public records from KDWP.

Your Rights

Under Kansas law, you have the right to: 

  • Request assistance from KDWP’s Records Custodian at any time.
  • Obtain a copy of KDWP’s policies and procedures for access to public records.
  • Inspect and obtain copies of public records which are not exempted from disclosure by law.
  • Receive a written response to your request within three business days, including a response advising that it will take additional time to fully respond to your request.
  • File a complaint with Kansas Attorney General or pursue a personal cause of action, if you feel your request for public records is wrongfully denied.
Your Responsbilities

Under Kansas law, you have the responsibility to:

  • Make your request in writing.
  • Request records that are in existence at the time of the request and to not request the creation of records or records that may be created in the future.
  • Provide proof of your identity, when required by KDWP.
  • Pay reasonable fees, not exceeding the actual cost to KDWP for granting access to records, copies of records, and staff time for processing your request.
  • Not tamper with any public record you have been granted access to inspect.
  • Certify you do not have a commercial intent, when requesting lists of names and addresses.
  • Certify you have a right of access to requested records and the basis of that right, when requesting private or confidential information about yourself, your dependents, or on behalf of an estate.

How To Request an Open Record from KDWP

KDWP requires requests for access to or copies of records to be made in writing. Your request for records should include: 

  • Your name,
  • Your organization's name (if applicable),
  • Your mailing address (or the address of your organization),
  • Your phone number,
  • Your email address, and
  • A detailed, specific description of the records you are requesting.

Your request can be submitted:

Online
Open Records Request Form
By Email
kdwp.openrecords@ks.gov
By Mail
Custodian of Public Records
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Office of the Secretary
1020 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612

 

Paying Fees for Open Records

If KDWP can respond to your request in under an hour of staff time, the response and any responsive records will be provided at no charge.

KDWP will provide you with an estimate of the fees before gathering and processing or providing access to the records. You must pay the estimated fees before KDWP processes your request or provides access to requested records. If the ultimate cost of producing the records is less than the estimated amount you paid, KDWP will refund any remaining amount to you. If KDWP discovers the estimated fee is too low to cover the actual costs of processing the request, KDWP will promptly advise you of corrections to the fee and request that you pay any additional costs before processing continues.

If KDWP requests a fee greater than $200 or will need to spend more than 5 hours of staff time to process or finish processing your request and you do not respond to that request for payment within three business days, then your request will be deemed withdrawn pursuant to K.S.A. 45-219.

For requests that would take an hour or more of staff time, the following rates shall apply:

Staff Time

  • Clerical time charged at $18/hour
  • Staff Attorney time charged at $47/hour
  • Chief Counsel time charged at $62/hour
  • Information Technology services charged at $38/hour
  • Fiscal staff time charged at $30/hour
  • Biologist staff time charged at $32/hour
  • Law Enforcement Officer time charged at $28/hour
  • Law Enforcement Supervisor time charged at $40/hour
  • Division Director time charged at $46/hour
  • Executive staff time charged at $59/hour

Shipping and Mailing Expenses

  • Postage charged at actual cost
  • Shipping  charged at estimated cost for FedEx or UPS.

Additional Fees

Any other costs incurred by KDWP in connection with complying with your request may be assessed to you.

Response Time

KDWP will act upon your request as soon as possible, with an initial response sent to you no later than the third business day following your request. 

For many requests, additional time may be needed to:

  • Clarify or refine the scope of your request;
  • Assess the existence and availability of records;
  • Assess fees;
  • Gather any responsive records; or
  • Review, redact, or close records as required or permitted by law.

If KDWP is not able to provide the records on the third business day, the initial response sent to you will provide a detailed explanation of the cause for further delay and the earliest date on which KDWP expects the records will be available. This date will be an estimate. If processing the record requires additional time, KDWP will notify you of the cause for further delay and identify the new date when it anticipates being able to provide the records.

As soon as the necessary fees have been paid and records have been gathered and reviewed, KDWP will provide either:

  • Copies of records via mail or email; or
  • Access to records at the Office of the Secretary at a scheduled time during regular business hours, after arrangement have been made following an advanced written request.

Reasons for Denial

Your request may be partially or completely denied if the:

  • Requested records do not exist;
  • Requested records are not public records;
  • Requested records may be closed under K.S.A. 45-221 or another law;
  • Request was unclear, vague, or not in writing;
  • Request required proof of identity, certification of right of access, or certification of non-commercial intents, which you refused to provide;
  • Request places unreasonable burden on KDWP in producing the records;
  • Request is intended to disrupt other essential functions of KDWP; or
  • Request is for audio or or visual items, not shown or played during a public meeting of KDWP’s governing body.


KDWP Responsibilities

Under Kansas law, KDWP will

  • Provide access to records subject to disclosure pursuant to state law;
  • Take reasonable measures to protect records from damage or disorganization;
  • Prevent excessive disruption to KDWP’s essential functions;
  • Provide assistance and information about open records law; and
  • Provide efficient and timely action in response to your request.

Questions and Complaints

For questions about the Kansas Open Records Act or KDWP’s policies, or to resolve records dispute, please contact KDWP’s Records Custodian:

Josephine Kiefer
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Office of the Secretary
1020 S. Kansas Ave, Suit 200
Topeka, KS 66612

kdwp.openrecords@ks.gov
785-296-3820

Location Where Records Can Be Inspected

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Office of the Secretary
1020 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612

Regular office hours on all business days (excluding Saturday, Sunday, and official holidays) are from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Records will be made available for inspection during those hours after arrangements are made following an advance, written request.

Approved May 15, 2026

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