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An informed citizen is better equipped to participate in that process.  \nLaws mandating the disclosure of public records have existed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1851. The federal Freedom of Information Act was signed into law in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1974, Congress amended the federal Freedom of Information Act in order to make government records more accessible to the public.  \nThe Massachusetts Public Records Law parallels federal law, with some variation. Every government record in Massachusetts is presumed to be public unless it may be withheld under a specifically stated exemption.  \nAs Secretary of the Commonwealth and chief public information officer for the Commonwealth, I am pleased to publish this guide explaining the Public Records Law. The full text of the law is provided, as well as a brief description of each of the exemptions to the law.  \nAlso included is a section of frequently asked questions about a requestor’s right to access public records, as well as a government records custodian’s duty to respond to those requests.  \nAny additional questions regarding the Public Records Law should be directed to the Division of Public Records at (617) 727-2832 during regular business hours.  \nYou may access Division of Public Records publications and other [information at](information at www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm)[ ](information at www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm)[www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm](information at www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm).  \nWilliam Francis Galvin  \nSecretary of the Commonwealth  \nTable of Contents  \nOverview ........................................................................................................................4  \nDefinitions ..................................................................................................4  \nThe Request................................................................................................6  \nThe Response .............................................................................................7  \nFees .......................................................................................................... 10  \nRemedies for Requestors ..........................................................................12  \nRAO Petitions ......................................................................................... 13  \nAgency RAO Reporting Requirement .................................................... 14  \nExemptions to the Public Records Law ....................................................................... 15  \nExemption (a) exempted from disclosure by statute ................................ 15  \nExemption (b) internal personnel rules and practices ............................. 16  \nExemption (c) unwarranted invasion of personal privacy ....................... 17  \nExemption (d) policy positions being developed ..................................... 19  \nExemption (e) notebooks and other materials .........................................20  \nExemption (f) investigatory materials .....................................................21  \nExemption (g) trade secrets ... voluntarily provided ............................. 21  \nExemption (h) proposals and bids .............","cbCaiicaqkg9WCsr","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiicaqkg9WCsr","pdf",1064362,83,"English","# Overview\n## Overview\n## Definitions\n## The Request\n## The Response\n## Fees\n## Remedies for Requestors\n## RAO Petitions\n## Agency RAO Reporting Requirement\n## Exemptions to the Public Records Law\n## Attorney-Client Communications\n## Geographic Information Systems (GIS)\n## Records Management\n## Records Retention\n## Electronic Records Storage\n## Maintenance and Storage of Public Records\n## Frequently Asked Questions","[{\"question\":\"Are Massachusetts government records presumed public under the Public Records Law?\",\"answer\":\"Yes. Every government record in Massachusetts is presumed to be public unless it may be withheld under a specifically stated exemption.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the guide cover regarding requests and responses?\",\"answer\":\"It explains a requestor’s right to access public records and a government records custodian’s duty to respond to those requests, including the request and response process.\"},{\"question\":\"What major exemption topics are included in the guide?\",\"answer\":\"The guide provides descriptions of exemptions (a) through (v), covering statutory nondisclosure, internal personnel rules, personal privacy, developing policy positions, investigatory and confidential materials, trade secrets, bids and proposals, real property appraisals, and several specific healthcare and safety-related exemptions.\"}]","A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law - Updated December 2022 | PDF",1790689207,209]