Accessing Public Records
The purpose of the California Public Records Act (CPRA) is to promote “access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.” (California Government Code Section 6250)
- "Public Records" includes “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained” by the University, “regardless of physical form or characteristics.” (California Government Code Section 6252(e))
- Any person may submit a CPRA request.
- The request does not need to identify an exact record, but should be sufficiently precise to permit the University to locate the records. The request should be specific and focused and should not be unduly burdensome.
- The University will provide access to all public records upon request unless the law provides an exemption from mandatory disclosure.
- In responding to requests for University documents, the campus must balance the competing interests of (a) providing access to records about how public business is conducted, against (b) protecting the rights of privacy of an individual whose information may exist in those records.