Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Ethics Commission could gain power to settle disputes over requests for public records.

Senators passed the final version of Senate Bill 2507 on Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant.

The bill says a person can file a complaint with the Ethics Commission if a governing board or agency denies a request to see or copy public records. The entity would have 14 days to respond to the complaint.

The commission could dismiss the complaint or order the board or agency to provide the records. The commission also could impose up to a $100 penalty for failure to comply.

The bill says anyone involved in the process could appeal the Ethics Commission's decision to a chancery court.

Under current law, public-records disputes go straight to chancery court.