firstamendment

Providing Requestor’s Name, Personal Information Q: Am I required to provide my name and contact number when requesting a public record? A: If you walk into an agency and ask to see a particular record or records, I am not aware of any requirement that you provide your name or other identifying information in order to view the records. However, as a practical matter, if you are submitting a request in writing the agency may

The CPRA and State Employees Q: I am a state employee in a California agency.   Recently, I sent a request to my own agency requesting a record I believe to be public.  I used the advice provided in your tri-fold PRA brochure (ask informally before invoking the law, etc.)   After a week of no response, I wrote again yesterday (just a reminder).   I thought the delay might have something to do with the nature of

Information on Minors, Public Schools, and the California Public Records Act Q: I would like to know if information on children attending public schools is available under the Federal Open Records Act.  I am looking to get mailing address for parents sending their children to public schools.  If this information is available, would I be able to get the information from the school district office or would I have to approach the schools individually? A:

Searching Fees for Records Requests Q: As an architectural historian I often need to include alterations over time and must access and inspect, but not copy, building permits.   Riverside County indicates they will charge a fee based on work they must do to collect onsite materials (microfilm, 4×5 cards, old computer printouts), and to provide information on how to extract the information.  Are these fees allowed?  Do they fall under “statutory fees”? A: We are

Destruction of Public Records Q: I’m a real estate attorney who is also a volunteer at a school district. Here is my immediate dilemma in a nutshell: Last night, the School Board acted on an agenda item to cease recording future closed sessions of their governing board. When the question was raised as to what would become of the existing audio tapes of closed sessions, the Board President announced that they would be immediately destroyed