Access to agenda attachments Q: Does a government body subject to the Brown Act also have to provide access to the attachments to agenda items 48 hours before the meeting? If so, do they have to also provide copies of the attachments upon request if the person pays the copying fee? I am referring to attachments that make up the agenda packet. A: You may request that a copy of the agenda and “all documents
Administrative hearing transcripts Q: I attended a hearing in my city regarding a canine noise level complaint. The hearing officer/judge found for the plaintiffs. Because of various oddities related to the hearing and the ruling, I determined that I needed to file an appeal. The administrative hearing is not appeal-able so that means I need to file a Write of Mandemus in Superior court.I requested a copy of the transcript of the hearing and received
Access to coroner’s report Q: My question is to what elements of a coroner’s report to we have access? A: I am unaware of any provision of the Government Code relating to coroners and coroners’ records that makes a coroner’s report confidential or precludes public disclosure of the coroner’s records, with the exception of limitations imposed on the disclosure of privileged communications of a decedent obtained by subpoena. Cal. Gov’t Code § 27491.8. Because a
Access to appointment calendars Q: Can one use Proposition 59 to justify a public records request of the sheriff’s calendar? A: You can request access to the Sheriff’s calendar pursuant to both the California Public Records Act (CPRA), specifically Government Code section 6253(b), and “Proposition 59” which is actually part of the California Constitution (Article I, section 3(b) of the California Constitution, to be precise).Neither the CPRA nor Article I, section 3(b) of the Constitution
Q: On what day does the count begin for the PRA’s response “within 10 days” start? The day that the agency receives it? Or the day afterward? Does it have to be received on a business day? A: Section 6253 of the Government Code, which sets forth the 10-day compliance period under the Public Records Act, simply states that a response shall be made “within 10 days from receipt of the request.” In general, when