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Open Records
Access to Open Records
Under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), you have the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) that are not exempt from disclosure.
We will respond to your request by the end of the third business day after the request was received. We may not be able to immediately grant access to or disclose requested records due to the number of requests received and the time required to review each request.
Your request may be denied in whole or in part. If denied, we will identify the records and the specific legal authority for the denial. Please note that KORA does not require KDHE to prepare a report or create a record at your request.
Information available under the Kansas Open Records Act includes but is not limited to the following:
- Minutes and documents cited in open, public meetings
- Salaries and basic information about public employees
- Budget information
- Licensing data about regulated industries
- KDHE Online Databases
Some records contain private, privileged, or confidential information. Records that are exempt from disclosure under the Kansas Open Records Act include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Immunization records
- Birth and Death Certificates
- Records protected by the attorney-client privilege or an attorney work product
- Notes and preliminary drafts
- Records related to matters in which administrative or civil litigation is pending if the records were compiled in the process of detecting or investigating the violations involved.
A detailed list of exemptions to the Kansas Open Records Act can be found in K.S.A. 45-221(a).
Records & Databases Available Online
KDHE provides access to many records and databases on this website. We recommend checking the following online databases prior to making a KORA request.
- Child Care Licensing
- Environmental Interest Finder
- Environmental Remediation
- Immunization Records
- Waste Management
Licensed Child Care Facility Inspection Results includes survey findings for the last three years for licensed facilities.
The KDHE Environmental Interest Finder (KEIF) is a searchable application providing site-specific information such as site name, project ID#, location, and city for the following programs:
- Identifies Sites List (ISL)
- Toxic Release (TRI)
- Air Quality
- Dry Cleaners Tanks: Above and Underground Storage Tanks
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) - Solid Waste/Landfills/Dumps
- Waste Water: Underground Injection Control (UIC)
- Radiation Right to Know Program
KDHE's Environmental Remediation databases include the following:
- Environmental Use Controls - Environmental Use Controls are more commonly known as institutional controls, which are legal controls intended to restrict or prohibit human activities and property use in such a way as to prevent or reduce exposures to contamination.
- Identified Sites List (ISL) - Records of environmentally-contaminated sites, excluding underground and above-ground tank sites. Records contain links to photos and BER reports, if available for that site.
- Kansas Interactive Spills Map - Spills reported near a specific address or location.
- Underground and Above-Ground Storage Tanks - Information about above-ground and underground storage tank facilities in Kansas.
To request your own immunization record, you must be 18 years or older. If you are requesting the record of a minor child under the age of 18, you must be the child's parent or legal guardian at the time of the request. There is no charge to receive a copy of an immunization record. Learn more.
The Solid Waste Database includes information on landfills, transfer stations, tire transporters and processors, other solid waste processors, household hazardous waste facilities, composting sites, and old (pre-1997) city dumps.
Fees
You will be charged reasonable fees for staff time and expenses incurred processing your request. We may require advanced payment.
- No fee or charge shall be assessed for the copying of documents responsive to a request made by any resident of Kansas, up to and including the first 100 pages of copies.
- The agency will provide an estimate of the fees that shall be paid prior to producing the records. Records will not be released until payment is received. If the final cost is lower than the estimate, the requestor will be reimbursed for the difference.
Online Request System
Once you submit your KORA request, you will receive an email with a confirmation number. If you do not receive a confirmation email, check your junk/spam folder. If you still don't see your confirmation, try resubmitting your request. If you don't receive a confirmation the second time, email the KORA Officer or call 785-296-5334.
Other Ways to Submit KORA Requests
Complete the KDHE Request for Records (PDF) form and return via
- Fax 785-559-4272
- Mail
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Office of Legal Services
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 560
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Questions?
Email the KORA Officer or call 785-296-5334.