CA public records, according to the California Public Records Act or CPRA, can be accessed by any entity whether the one requesting the records is the public such as an individual person or private such as an organization or company. The aim of the CPRA is to ensure that government transactions are made public to ensure that every government official or agency is held accountable for their actions. All records are available for inspection by the public and can be accessed during the government agency's business hours.
According to the State of California Government Code 6250, records considered public include the following: (a) any writing that the government conducts for the public and has retained in its keeping regardless of its form and (b) all records kept in the Governor's office on or after January 6, 1975. Record samples are obtainable from the following entities - (1) the State's different agencies such as bureaus, departments, divisions and commission offices, (2) counties or municipalities (3) from school districts and (4) local public agencies. (CA Gov. Code Sec. 6252)
There are however exemptions to the law. The state clearly defines those records that are restricted from the public access including the following records (a) ongoing trial (b) personal records or records that invade one's privacy, (c) regulations pertaining to banking regulations, (d) homeland security, (e) tax information of an individual, (f) circulation reports from the library and (g) employee reports. The law also prohibits the dissemination of personal information of the State's employees. Access to the information is restricted to the entities as discussed in Sec. 6254.3 (a) of the CPRA.
To obtain a copy of the record requested, the person requesting can phone, email, mail or view the records. Each department or bureau has their own guidelines on filling up forms or making requests. The Law mandates the state agencies to respond to the request within ten days from the day the request was made. Payment of fees also differ depending on the agency where one is requesting the public records although the State only mandates the agencies to charge the person requesting the records for direct cost of photocopying the records.
In certain cases, the agency might not be able to accommodate the request made. Some reasons that the agency might give to the person requesting the information would be - (a) records are located in different office, (b) the request volume would require longer time to finish, (c) the reports would need to be discussed with other departments before being released and (d) the reports might require computer expertise to be retrieved.
Government public records are important as these contain valuable information. Death records, birth and marriage records are some of the necessary reports that one might need. To access the records without having to go to the State agencies, one can check out sites that do offer record searches for free or for a minimal amount. Information is readily available and for those who need the information fast, this is the easiest way to do so.
According to the State of California Government Code 6250, records considered public include the following: (a) any writing that the government conducts for the public and has retained in its keeping regardless of its form and (b) all records kept in the Governor's office on or after January 6, 1975. Record samples are obtainable from the following entities - (1) the State's different agencies such as bureaus, departments, divisions and commission offices, (2) counties or municipalities (3) from school districts and (4) local public agencies. (CA Gov. Code Sec. 6252)
There are however exemptions to the law. The state clearly defines those records that are restricted from the public access including the following records (a) ongoing trial (b) personal records or records that invade one's privacy, (c) regulations pertaining to banking regulations, (d) homeland security, (e) tax information of an individual, (f) circulation reports from the library and (g) employee reports. The law also prohibits the dissemination of personal information of the State's employees. Access to the information is restricted to the entities as discussed in Sec. 6254.3 (a) of the CPRA.
To obtain a copy of the record requested, the person requesting can phone, email, mail or view the records. Each department or bureau has their own guidelines on filling up forms or making requests. The Law mandates the state agencies to respond to the request within ten days from the day the request was made. Payment of fees also differ depending on the agency where one is requesting the public records although the State only mandates the agencies to charge the person requesting the records for direct cost of photocopying the records.
In certain cases, the agency might not be able to accommodate the request made. Some reasons that the agency might give to the person requesting the information would be - (a) records are located in different office, (b) the request volume would require longer time to finish, (c) the reports would need to be discussed with other departments before being released and (d) the reports might require computer expertise to be retrieved.
Government public records are important as these contain valuable information. Death records, birth and marriage records are some of the necessary reports that one might need. To access the records without having to go to the State agencies, one can check out sites that do offer record searches for free or for a minimal amount. Information is readily available and for those who need the information fast, this is the easiest way to do so.
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