June 3, 2016

Gov. Charlie Baker today signed an overhaul of the state’s public records law that imposes strict new rules on cities, towns and state agencies governing timelines to respond to requests for records, how much can be charged to cover costs, and what penalties could be imposed on state and local government agencies.
 
The new rules take effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
 
The law, passed by the Legislature on May 25 after a year of debate, requires cities and towns to review and update local practices for responding to records requests. The state’s supervisor of records, in the secretary of state’s office, is expected to release regulations to guide implementation of the law by late this year.
 
Under the reform law, every city and town is required to designate one or more employees as a “records access officer,” likely the city or town clerk and any other employee appointed by the municipal chief executive officer. The local records officer will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the response to requests for public records, including helping people identify records being sought.
 
Every city and town will be required to post in the municipal building and on the local website, if any, the name, title and contact information for the municipal records officer(s).
 
Public records will have to be provided in electronic form if originally available in that form


posted by Jeff Bennett