A bill would fine state workers who withhold public records.
Rep. George Cleveland, an Onslow County Republican, said he filed the bill to make sure that documents that should be available to the public are, Freedom Newspapers reports.
"We have a perfectly good open records law, but there's no teeth in it," he told reporter Barry Smith.
Under the bill, public officials who violate the state's public records law could be fined up to $50 for each day they failed to produce a record without good cause. It would also require judges award attorney's fees when a member of the public successfully sues for access.
The bill would also set up an open government unit at Attorney General Roy Cooper's office.
Local government officials have opposed similar bills in the past, arguing they are not necessary since judges already can award attorney's fees.
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