The bill amends Section 38-2-3 of the General Laws regarding access to public records, introducing new provisions to enhance transparency and accessibility. It establishes that all records maintained by public bodies are public records, allowing individuals the right to inspect and copy these records. The bill mandates that public bodies maintain written minutes of all meetings and develop written procedures for accessing public records, which must be readily available to the public. It specifies that a written request for public records does not need to be on a specific form, as long as it is identifiable as a request.

A significant change introduced by the bill is the provision that electronically stored public records in a computer storage system must be provided at no charge upon request. This aims to eliminate barriers to accessing public records and ensures that the public can obtain information without incurring costs. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5877: 38-2-3