Public Record Requests: Guidelines for Access to Public Records


California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250, et seq.)

Public records in the possession and control of the California Technology Agency (Agency), which are not exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act, shall be available for inspection and copies of such public records shall be provided pursuant to these guidelines.

Request Inspection or Copies of Public Records. Requests should be sufficiently specific and focused to enable identification, location, and retrieval of the public records sought. If a request is not specific and focused, Agency staff will assist the requester to identify public records that may be responsive to the request or to the purpose of the request, or provide suggestions for overcoming any practical barriers to disclosure of the public records sought. The Agency does not supplement responses to previous requests when new records are created or received. A separate request must be submitted each time records are sought.

To ensure accuracy in responding to a request for public records, the Agency encourages all requests to be submitted in writing, including by facsimile or electronic mail. Requests may also be made verbally, by telephone, or in person. Please direct written requests to:

California Technology Agency, Legal Office
P.O. Box 1810
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-1810

You can also contact the Legal Office directly to submit a request by phone at (916) 403-9622 or (916) 324-1738, or via facsimile at (916) 324-1732.

A request can also be submitted by completing the contact form that can be accessed by choosing the Feedback Form tab at the above menu bar.

Please be advised that the Agency is an Information Technology agency, not a general information office, for all state agencies. As such, we are not able to respond to general inquiries outside of the purview of this Agency.

Records Exempt from Disclosure. The Agency cannot disclose records which are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. (Government Code sections 6254 and 6255).

Inspecting Public Records. Public records in the possession and control of the Agency, which are not exempt from disclosure, shall be available for inspection during normal business hours of the Agency (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). If the request seeks inspection of records, a mutually agreeable time shall be established for the inspection. Agency functions will not be disrupted to permit inspection of records and records will not be available for inspections during periods when the records are required by Agency personnel in the performance of their duties. Records will not be removed from the possession of the Agency. An Agency employee will be present during the inspection of records to prevent the loss or destruction of records.

Obtaining Copies of Public Records. Once the Agency determines the number of pages of documents that are responsive to a request, the Agency may require the requester to pay a duplication cost of 25 cents per page in advance of providing the documents. Such payment is to be made in cash, check, or money order, payable to the Agency. Credit card payment is not accepted. The Agency does not accept payment of estimated duplication costs at the time the request is submitted. Public records that already exist in electronic format that are not exempt from disclosure and do not require redaction of exempt or privileged information will be provided in electronic format, if requested.