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Sample CPRA request letter

firstamendment June 12, 2009

resources ACCESS TO RECORDS Sample CPRA Request Letter Menu | Access to Records Download CPRA Sample Letter Date Name and Title [of the official with custody of the records] Name of Agency Address RE: Public Records Act Request Dear, I am requesting access to records in possession or control of the [insert government entity] for the purposes of inspection and copying pursuant to the California Public Records Act, California Government Code § 6250 et seq.

A&A: University claims to have a year to respond to document requests

FAC January 4, 2011

Q. The Public Affairs director at the local State University claims that he can take four months to a year to respond with public records. This needs to be resolved as he is routinely months late with responses. A. The Public Records Act gives local agencies 10 days to respond to a request for a copy of a public record; the time for responding can be extended by the agency for an additional 14 days

A&A: How long does the agency have to reply to my records request?

FAC January 19, 2012

Q: I requested documents regarding disciplinary action taken against me by my employer, a metro department of transportation. It’s been more than a month and I’ve not received a reply. What would be the next course of action? A: The Public Records Act gives local agencies 10 days to respond to a request for a copy of a public record; the time for responding can be extended by the agency for an additional 14 days

A&A: School District Stalling Over My Request For Gender Breakdowns On Student Performance

FAC April 21, 2022

Q: I made a PRA request to the School District for gender breakdowns on student performance. After nine business days, I receive an email reply from a law firm seeking “clarification” on about fifty percent of the items. The clarifications requested are not necessary; they are stalling. And they do claim to have approximately half of the items but they did not provide such. The lawyer also claims that due to “reduced staff” they cannot provide me

Sample Letter : Police Records

FAC August 26, 2020

Police transparency Guide Sample Letter | RecordS Download Police Transparency Guide Sample Letter | SB 1421 Records Sample Public Records Act request seeking information about police conduct accessible under Senate Bill 1421 DateName and title [of the official/agency with custody of the records]Name of AgencyAddress RE: Public Records Act Request Dear ___________, I am requesting access to records in possession or control of the [insert government entity] pursuant to the California Public Records Act, Government

Police Transparency Sample Letter Police Recordings

FAC August 26, 2020

Police transparency Sample Letter | Police Recordings Download Police Transparency Guide Sample Letter | Police Recordings Sample Public Records Act request for audio or video recordings of critical incidents under Assembly Bill 748 DateName and title [of the official/agency with custody of the records]Name of AgencyAddress RE: Public Records Act Request Dear ___________, I am requesting access to records in possession or control of the [insert government entity] pursuant to the California Public Records Act,

A&A:Denied access to county’s seismic studies

FAC September 29, 2011

Q: I have been seeking access to seismic studies performed as part of the county’s subway extension process but my request has been denied. I would like to make the request under the FOIA. How should I do this? Does the County have its own FOIA? A: Since it sounds like the agency you are seeking records from is a local agency, as opposed to a federal agency, you would probably want to make your

A&A: Request for advisory committee’s documents denied

FAC August 3, 2011

Q: I want to get copies of documents from a local planning group (elected advisory body under the City’s Dept. of Planning and Land Use). The chair of the committee has sent members an email explaining that they should each bring the documents they possess for me to read while the meeting is in session, but claiming copies needn’t be provided. What do I do? A: As it sounds like you are aware, under the

A&A: City’s Update Letters Not Shared With Public Until A Week After Release to Staff & Council

FAC March 10, 2020

Q: For the past couple of years, the city manager sends a weekly update letter to the council & other staff. The letter goes out on Thursday each week. I have requested to receive this letter on the same date as the staff and council receive it, but they purposely wait seven days to send it to me saying that it is under the 10-day rule. I have sent them the section of California law where if

A&A: School district claims too busy to fulfill document request

FAC August 18, 2011

Q: I have made numerous attempts to view board meeting minutes, a contract with a specific vendor, payment documents to that vendor, and the names of the other bidders who were not selected for the position at the School District offices. Each time they sent me away saying that they were too busy to get the documents for me, and I would have to send them a written request, which I did. Even so, they

A&A:Fire Department Mishandled Response to CPRA Request

FAC January 26, 2018

Q: I submitted a Public Records Act request to the metro Fire Department on an employee misconduct and abuse of power case which was captured on video. It was submitted on Oct 17, 2017. The department did not respond by Oct 27 as dictated by the 6253(c). On Nov 6, 2017. I contacted the department and they responded that the clerk who received the request on Oct 17th told me it would take longer. I responded

A&A: Is it legal to charge fees for viewing a transcript?

FAC October 21, 2011

Q: My organization is being charged a fee to view parole hearing transcripts–not copy; simply view. We are also told we will be charged to view the complete parole board’s response to a public hearing. We would like an opinion on the legality of this policy A: It sounds like you know that under the Public Records Act, “[p]ublic records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or

A&A: Can’t access documents because the staff member in possession is on extended vacation

FAC October 5, 2011

Q: I requested e-mail records from a public agency months ago. I am still waiting for many of these records and have been informed that the person who has access to these records will be on vacation for at least another month. Does the government have the right to delay responding to my request for months due to vacations? If not, do you have any cases I can mention to the agency that cover this

Inspect vs. Request, and Proposals as Public Records

firstamendment June 14, 2009

Inspect vs. Request, and Proposals as Public Records Q: I’d like to know if proposals made to cities in response to a request for proposals are public records. Also, I’ve heard that there is no 10-day waiting period if someone simply asks to inspect a record, and does not ask for copies in a PRA. Is that true? A: Under the Public Records Act, all documents created, owned, or maintained by a public agency are

A&A: Public records request run around from housing authority

FAC May 24, 2013

Q: We requested a copy of a payment performance bond from the city’s Housing Authority for a general contractor that we did work for as a sub. We also requested a copy of the contract and were told we would have to pay for it and it could take 2-3 weeks. We are trying to obtain this information because the general contractor has not paid us and we need this information to try and get

A&A: Charged a fee for viewing documents? Is that legal?

FAC May 4, 2011

My non-profit organization is being charged a fee to view parole hearing transcripts–not copy, simply view. We also have been told we will be charged to view the Parole Board’s response to a public hearing. We would like an opinion on the legality of this policy A: Under the Public Records Act, “[p]ublic records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has

A&A: Does city’s “fee schedule” for public records violate CPRA?

FAC June 24, 2010

Q: A media partner of ours reported that a municipality has adopted a “schedule of charges” for public records requests. The board voted that there will be a $25 administrative fee per request. The number of pages requested will generate additional fees. The first 10 pages of records will cost $1 per page and each additional page up to 50 pages will cost 25 cents per page. Requests that exceed 50 pages will be provided

A&A: Does the CPRA allow use of iPhone to photograph public records?

FAC January 9, 2013

Q: The County Recorders Office prohibits the use of hand scanners or digital cameras in its Public Documents room and requires researchers to purchase document copies from them. Is this restriction legal ? A: The California Public Records Act (CPRA), in pertinent part, only requires that an agency’s records be “open for inspection”, Govt. Code section 6253(a), and that “upon request for a copy of records . . . [the agency] shall make the records

Are oral CPRA requests permitted?

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Are oral CPRA requests permitted? Q: I’m new to public records laws in California, and curious if you can help. What is the requirement in California for initiating that inquiry? Do I need to send a written request, or is a verbal request deemed to have the same weight? A: Under the California Public Records Act, Government Code § 6250 et seq., an oral request for records is permitted. Government Code section 6253(a) provides that

A&A:City wants me to pay to see report on fire at my house

FAC November 24, 2009

Q: I just requested an incident report from the Fire Department relating to a fire at my property. They wanted to charge me $16 just to view the record, and said that they had been authorized to do so by the City Council. Is this legal? GovC 6253(b) authorizes charges “… of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if applicable.” Does a city council resolution and ordinance authorizing the $16 fee