The bill amends Section 38-2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 38-2, which pertains to "Access to Public Records." It introduces new provisions that enhance the public's right to inspect and copy records maintained by public bodies. The bill mandates that public bodies must 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 a public records request, and the requirement to post these procedures on the public body's website if available.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that public bodies must respond to requests for records within ten business days and may extend this period by up to twenty additional days under certain circumstances. A significant change introduced by the bill is that electronically stored public records in a computer storage system must be provided at no charge upon request. 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 bill seeks to improve transparency and accessibility of public records for the public.

Statutes affected:
7580: 38-2-3