The bill amends Section 38-2-3 of the General Laws concerning "Access to Public Records." It introduces new provisions that enhance the public's right to inspect and copy records maintained by public bodies. Notably, it mandates that public bodies maintain written or recorded minutes of all meetings and establish clear procedures for accessing public records. These procedures must include the identification of a designated public records officer, instructions on how to make requests, and the posting of these procedures on the public body’s website. Additionally, the bill stipulates that public bodies must respond to requests for records within ten business days and may extend this period by an additional twenty days under certain circumstances.

A significant insertion in the bill is the provision that electronically stored public records in a computer storage system must be provided at no charge upon request, notwithstanding previous regulations. The bill also clarifies that public records cannot be withheld based on the purpose of the request, and individuals are not required to provide personal information when making such requests. Overall, the amendments aim to improve transparency and accessibility of public records while ensuring that the public can obtain these records in various formats as per their preference.