public records act requests

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) is the main state law in California defining what state and local government records are open to public inspection.

The California Public Records Act is Government Code Section 6250 et. seq. See below for accessing the most recent version of the CPRA.

Help with the California Public Records Act

First Amendment Coalition

The First Amendment Coalition website has information the California Public Records Act and also offers assistance in filing public records act requests. The site also has news items on the latest developments in public records access, including court decisions interpreting the CPRA.

First Amendment Project

The First Amendment Project website has resources on using the California Pubilc Records Act and other laws on the public's right to access government meetings and records.

These includes pocket guides on the California Public Records Act and accessing government and court records and meetings, as well as a pocket guide to state shield law protections for journalists.

Californians Aware

At the Californians Aware website this non-profit group has posted resources on open government, as well as active message boards where people can discuss freedom of information issues and problems with accessing government documents and meetings.

California Attorney General's Office

The California Attorney General's Office has published a summary (pdf) of the California Public Records Act.

Sample CPRA Request Letter

sample letter from the First Amendment Coalition

Text of the California Public Records Act

You can look up the full text of the California Public Records Act at the state government's California Law site. The text of the law there may be more up to date than what's posted at other websites.

Go to the California Law website, scroll down and check the box next to Government Code. In the search box below type 6250, and click on the Search button.

At the search results page, click on the listing for GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6250-6270.

(the rest of the listings are for other sections of the government code that make reference to the California Public Records Act)

You'll get a screen you can scroll through to see all the sections of the California Public Records Act.