The bill seeks to amend Section 38-2-2 of the General Laws, which pertains to "Access to Public Records," by introducing a new definition section to clarify terms used within the chapter. It expands the definition of "Agency" or "public body" to include a broad range of governmental entities and any public or private entity acting on their behalf. The definition of "public record" is also broadened to include various formats such as electronic data and emails, with specific exceptions for certain emails related to elected officials.

Furthermore, the bill delineates records that are not considered public, thereby maintaining the confidentiality of personal, medical, and legal documents. It adds new exemptions to the list of non-public records, including the protection of residence information for peace officers, justices, judges, and magistrates, and various other records that could compromise privacy, safety, or the integrity of legal proceedings. The bill also exempts preliminary drafts, notes, and other pre-decisional documents, except those presented at public meetings, from disclosure. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, and while the text does not explicitly mark insertions or deletions, it implies that these are new exemptions being incorporated into the existing law.

Statutes affected:
7758: 38-2-2