Massachusetts Public Records Act

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How to ask for records
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The Massachusetts Public Records Act is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Open Meetings Act legislates the methods by which public meetings are conducted.

Massachusetts's transparency report card

A 2008 study, BGA - Alper Integrity Index, conducted by the Better Government Association and sponsored by Alper Services, ranked Massachusetts #20 in the nation with an overall percentage of 54.30%. [1]

A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave Massachusetts 31 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of "F", and a ranking of 43 out of the 50 states.[2]

A 2002 study, Freedom of Information in the USA, conducted by IRE and BGA, ranked Massachusetts's law as the 35th worst in the country, giving it a letter grade of "D+".[3]

Public Records

"The act covers records "made or received by any officer or employee of any agency, executive office, department, board, commission, bureau, division or authority of the Commonwealth, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of any authority established by the [Legislature] to serve a public purpose." G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 26. At state level, this basically means executive branch records. At the county and municipal level, it basically means all records, subject to exceptions, are open."[4]

Open Meetings

"All meetings of a governmental body shall be open to the public and any person shall be permitted to attend any meeting"[5]

Who May Request Massachusetts Records?

Anyone may request public documents in Massachusetts. Records custodians shall permit public records "to be inspected and examined by any person". [6]

For requester residency requirements in other states, see the list of who can make public record requests by state.

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Integrity Index available for download here
  2. ↑ Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, 2007
  3. ↑ Freedom of Information in the USA, 2002
  4. ↑ Open Government Guide to MA Statute - Basic Application
  5. ↑ General Laws of Massachusetts Chapter 39: Section 23B. Open meetings of governmental bodies
  6. ↑ General Laws of Massachusetts, 66-10(a)
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