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DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERALPeter F. KilmartinATTORNEY GENERAL

Access to Public Records Act& Open Meetings Act

PHOTO CREDIT: MARY AUDETTE

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INDEX

SECTION I The Access to Public Records Act

Findings – (2017) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13

Access to Public Records Act Statute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-25

SECTION II The Open Meeting Act

Findings – (2017) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-34

Open Meetings Act Statute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-45

SECTION III Procedures & Forms

Public Records Request Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Public Records Request Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Rules and Regulations Regarding Training Under the Access to Public Records Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49

CertificateofCompliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Open Meetings Act & Access to Public Records Act Checklist . . . . . 51-56

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SECTION I

Access to Public Records Act

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ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT FINDINGS – 2017PR 17-01 Ryan v. Oakland Mapleville Fire District ComplainantsallegedthattheOMFDviolatedtheAPRAwhenitfailed

to adequately respond to three multi-part APRA requests. The evidence indicatedthatanumberoftheAPRArequestswerenotproperrequestsfordocumentscognizableundertheAPRA,butinsteadinterrogatoriesforwhichresponsivedocumentshadalreadybeenprovided.See Block v. Block Island Volunteer Fire Department,PR15-45.TheevidencealsorevealedthatforeachremainingAPRArequesttheOMFDreasonablyandadequatelysearchedforresponsivedocumentsandeitherproducednumerousresponsivedocumentsorcrediblystated,afterareasonablesearch,thattheydidnothaveormaintainresponsivedocuments.See R.I.Gen.Laws§§38-2-3(a),(h).WefoundnoevidencethattheOMFDimproperlywithheldanyresponsivedocuments.Accordingly,wefoundno violations. Issued January 13, 2017.

PR 17-02 Grasso v. Town of Charlestown The Complainant alleged that the Town violated the APRA when it

failedtofullyrespondtohisAPRArequestbydisclosingadocumentcontaining pagination irregularities that suggested pages were missing. Wefoundnoevidencethatwouldleadustoconcludethatadditionalportionsof therequesteddocumentexisted.WeemphasizedthattheTownproducedthedocumentintheexactmannerandformatinwhichitwasmaintained.Accordingly,wefoundnoviolation.Issued February 07, 2017.

PR 17-03 Harris v. City of Providence The Complainant alleged the City violated the APRA when it produced

some documents in response to her APRA request, yet providedadditionaldocumentsinresponsetoarequestfiledbyanotherindividualthat the Complainant claimed was responsive to her APRA request. The Complainant’s APRA request sought: “[a]ll logs maintained by the ProvidencePoliceDepartmentofallcallsreceived***”Uponreviewof the other individual’s request, his request specifically sought “all incident reportsand/orcallsforservicefortheentityknownas***”Havingcomparedthetworequests,wefoundthattheywerenotsimilarandsoughtdifferentdocuments.TherewasnoviolationoftheAPRA.Issued February 6, 2017.

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PR 17-04 Clark v. Glocester Police Department Complainant alleged that the GPD violated the APRA with respect to

two separate APRA requests when: (1) it twice failed to specify thereasons for the denial; (2) it twice failed to indicate in writing thatno reasonably segregable portion was releasable; (3) it once failedto indicate the procedures for appealing the denial; and (4) it twicewithhelddocumentsbasedonthepurposeforwhichtherecordsweresought.TheevidencerevealedthatbothAPRAresponsescitedaspecificAPRAexemptionandthusweconcludedthattheGPDdidspecifythereasons for the denial. However, we also found that the GPD twicefailed to indicate inwriting thatno reasonably segregableportionoftherequesteddocumentwasreleasableandadditionallyoncefailedtoindicatetheproceduresforappealingthedenial.Wefoundnoevidencethatthedocumentswerewithheldbasedonthepurposeforwhichtheywere sought. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued February 24, 2017.

PR 17-05 Piskunov v. Town of Narragansett The Complainant alleged that the Town violated the APRA when it

withheldtherequestedlastteninternalaffairsreportscompletedbytheTown Police Department. Consistent with DirectActionforRightsandEquality v. Gannon (DARE),713A.2d218(R.I.1998),citizen-initiatedcomplaintsweremore likelyto further thepublic interest thanotherkindsof internal affairs reports.Here, the evidence indicated that ofthelastteninternalaffairsreportscompleted,onlythreewerecitizen-initiatedcomplaintsandtwoofthosecomplaintswereeitherwithdrawnor not pursued by the complainant. The evidence also revealed that the Complainantfailedtoarticulateanypublicinterest.Accordingly,basedupontheundisputedevidencepresented,wefailedtofindanyevidencethatthebalancingscaletippedinfavorofpublicdisclosureand,asaresult,foundnoviolation. Issued February 22, 2017.

PR 17-06 Piskunov v. Town of Burrillville The Complainant alleged that the Town violated the APRA when

it withheld requested documents and when it failed to indicate theprocedures for appealing thedenial. The evidence revealed that theTown released the requesteddocumentsduring thependencyof thismatter.We found no evidence of a willful and knowing, or reckless,violation,however,weconcludedthattheTownviolatedtheAPRAbyfailingtoindicatetheproceduresforappealingthedenial.VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued February 22, 2017.

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PR 17-07 Harris v. City of Providence Complainant alleged that the City violated the APRA when it: (1)

redacted handwritten notes on released documents; (2) failed toproduce a City’s employee’s calendar; (3) failed to produce certainpayrolldocumentsforaparticularCityemployee;and(4)chargedanallegedlyexcessivefeeforsearch,review,andredactionoftheproduceddocuments based on the short elapsed time between pre-payment and production. Based on our in camerareview,wefoundthattheredactedhandwritten notes were not responsive to the Complainant’s APRA requestandthustheredactiondidnotviolatetheAPRA.Additionally,basedontheCity’suncontrovertedaffidavits,wefoundnoevidencethatthecalendardocumentexisted.Withrespecttotherequestedpayrolldocuments,wefoundthattheCity’ssearchwasreasonablycalculatedtodiscoverallresponsivedocuments.Finally,wefoundthatundisputedevidencedemonstrated that theCity’s charge for search, review, andredactioncorrespondedtoworkdonebeforetheestimatewassenttotheComplainant.Accordingly,wefoundnoviolation.Issued February 24, 2017.

PR 17-08 J. Brian Day v. City of Pawtucket The Pawtucket Police Department did not violate the APRA when it

deniedarequest fortheresidentialaddressofapersoninvolved inamotor-vehicle accident. The information requested was availablethrough non-APRA avenues, and if a public record under the APRAin this circumstance, the residential addressmust be apublic recordundertheAPRAinallcircumstances.Norecognizedpublicinterestwasassertedfordisclosure.Issued February 27, 2017.

PR 17-09 Thomson v. Town of Johnston Complainant alleged that the Town violated the APRA when it produced

only the face sheet and not the narratives of the requested internalaffairs reports. Based on our prior finding in WPRI v. WoonsocketPolice Department,PR12-17,wefoundthattherequestfor“thelast10InternalAffairsreports”shouldbeinterpretedtoincludeboththefacesheetand their accompanyingnarratives.Accordingly,we found thatthe Town violated the APRA when it did not consider the narratives to beresponsivetotheAPRArequest.However,becauseitwasuncleariftheComplainantstillsoughttheinternalaffairsreports,andbecausethe contentof the internal affairs reportswasnot the subjectofourreview,weleftthesubsequentdeterminationofwhetherandinwhatmanner the responsive narrative reports must be disclosed to be made bytheTownconsistentwiththeAPRAandourfindinginPiskunovv.TownofNarragansett,PR17-05.VIOLATIONFOUND.Issued March 09, 2017.

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PR 17-10 Farinelli v. City of Pawtucket TheComplainantallegedthattheCityviolatedtheAPRAwhenitfailed

toproduce certaindocuments responsive toher request. Specifically,the APRA request sought the last twelve internal affairs reportsand, although the City provided twelve internal affairs reports, theComplainant alleged that other,more recent, internal affairs reportsshould have been included. The evidence revealed that the Complainant was already in possession of the sought documents and, in someinstances,thatthesoughtdocumentswerenotresponsivetoherAPRArequest.We foundno evidence of awillful and knowing, or reckless,violation. Issued March 09, 2017.

PR 17-11 Moses Afonso Ryan, Ltd. v. City of East Providence TheCityofEastProvidencedenied theComplainant’sAPRA request

basing its denial on its conclusion that “the documents you requested werefromameetingofindividualswhichdoesnotconstituteanagencyorpublicbodyasdefinedbyR.I.G.L.§38-2-2.”Thisdenialhasabsolutelynobasisinlawandotherthantheconclusorysentence,theCitymakesnoeffortinitsdenialorinitsresponsetothisDepartmenttoexplainthelegalbasisforthisdenial.Assuch,thisDepartmentdirectedthatthe City respond to the APRA request in a manner consistent with theAPRAand thisfinding,and that theCityprovidea supplementalresponse to this Department addressing why the violation that we have foundshouldnotbeconsidereda“knowingandwillful”or“reckless”violation, subjecting the City to monetary penalties. VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued April 12, 2017.

PR 17-11B Moses Afonso Ryan, Ltd. v. City of East Providence In Moses Afonso Ryan, Ltd v. City of East Providence, we reviewed

the Complainant’s Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”) complaintagainst the City of East Providence (“City”) and concluded that theCity violated the APRA when it improperly denied the Complainant’s APRA request. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7. The City was allowed to provideanexplanationastowhytheviolationshouldnotbeconsideredknowingandwillful,orreckless.SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-9(d).AfterreviewingtheCity’ssupplementalresponseandtheevidencepresented,it appeared that the City’s decision to deny accesswas the result ofcomingling the APRA and the OpenMeetings Act, which led to theCity’s conclusion that the APRA request was not made to a public body. Whilewerejectedthisreasoning,wearesatisfiedthattheviolationwasnotwillfulandknowing,orreckless. Issued, June 22, 2017.

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PR 17-12 Pierson v. Coventry Board of Canvassers TheBoardofCanvassersviolatedtheAPRAwhenitfailedtorespond

to an APRA request within ten (10) business days. This Department rejectedtheBoardofCanvasserschiefargumentthattheAPRArequestsought answers to questions or interrogatories, and therefore, felloutsidetheAPRA.TheBoardofCanvasserswasdirectedtorespondtothe APRA request. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued April 14, 2017.

PR 17-13 Piskunov v. Town of Glocester The Complainant alleged that the Town violated the APRA when it

withheld requested documents. During the pendency of this matter,theTownofferedtoproducetherequesteddocumentsbutconditionedaccess upon pre-payment. Rhode Island General Laws § 38-2-7(b) provides, inrelevantpart,that“[a]llcopyingandsearchandretrievalfeesshallbewaivedifapublicbodyfailstoproducerequestedrecordsinatimelymanner.”SincetheTownnolongerchallengesthedenial,and because the Town did not produce the requested records in a timely manner,we found that theTownviolatedR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-7(b).Consistent with this finding and with the APRA, this Departmentdirected the Town to produce the requested documents within ten (10) businessdaysofthisfinding.VIOLATIONFOUND.Issued April 13, 2017.

PR 17-14 Hicks v. Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Complainant alleged that the RICDHH violated the APRA when it

failedtorespondtotwooralandonewrittenrequest fordocuments.ComplainantalsoallegedthattheRICDHHfailedtomaintainwrittenAPRA procedures. The undisputed evidence indicated that although the two oral requests were arguably not proper requests pursuant to theAPRA,theRICDHHdidnothaveanyformalAPRAproceduresandwethereforetreatedtheoralrequestsasAPRArequests.Wealsofoundthat the written request was clearly an APRA request as it was labeled as such.TheRICDHH’sfailuretorespondtoanyoftheserequestsviolatedtheAPRA.WealsofoundthattheRICDHH’sfailuretomaintainwrittenAPRAproceduresviolatedtheAPRA.Assuch,thisDepartmentdirectedthe RICDHH to provide a supplemental response addressing why the violationswefoundshouldnotbeconsidered“knowingandwillful”or“reckless”violations.VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued April 17, 2017.

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PR 17-15 Oliver v. Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing The Complainant alleged that the RICDHH violated the APRA when

it failed to respond toher email asking for documents.Althoughweexpresseddoubtsthattheemailwasacognizablerequestfordocumentspursuant to the APRA, the evidence indicated that the RICDHH didnothaveanAPRApolicyand, accordingly,we treatedComplainant’semail as an APRA request. Because the RICDHH did not respond in any capacitytothisemailwefoundthattheRICDHHviolatedtheAPRA,butdidnotfindawillfulandknowing,orreckless,violation.VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued April 17, 2017.

PR 17-16 Harris v. City of Providence The City did not violate the APRA when it exempted from public

disclosure a videotape played at a public meeting depicting an assault on a private individual. The Complainant presented no evidence or argument that the public interest would be advanced through disclosure and R.I. Gen. Laws 38-2-2(4)(K)’s mandate that documents submitted at a public meeting are public records and must be disclosed applies only tothecategoriesofdocumentssetforthinR.I.Gen.Laws38-2-2(4)(K).Issued April 18, 2017.

PR 17-17 Harris v. City of Providence The Complainant alleged the City violated the APRA when it withheld

unfiled deposition transcripts. The City claimed it purchased thetranscripts froma thirdpartycourt reporterand,assuch,consideredthem to be ‘trade secrets and commercial or financial informationobtainedfromaperson,firm,orcorporationwhichisofaprivilegedorconfidentialnature.’SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-2(4)(B).”WeconcludedthatunfileddepositiontranscriptsinacivilcasearenotpublicrecordsundertheAPRAbasedonFederalRuleofCivilProcedure30(f)(3),(4)andR.I.SuperiorCourtRuleofCivilProcedure30(f)(2),whichgoverndepositions in civil cases, and on the ruling inCritical Mass Energy Projectv.NuclearRegulatoryCommission,975F.2d871(D.C.Cir.1992),which was approved in The Providence Journal Company v. Convention Center Authority,774A.2d40(R.I.2011). Issued April 18, 2017.

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PR 17-18 Karlsson v. Rhode Island Department of Education The Rhode IslandDepartment of Education (“RIDE”) did not violate

the APRA since the evidence established that RIDE did not receive theComplainant’sAPRArequest. WhileitwasunclearwhyRIDEdidnotreceivetheComplainant’sAPRArequest,theComplainantdidnotprovideanyrebuttaltocontradictRIDE’sassertion.Moreover,RIDE’sresponse once becoming aware of the APRA request – to respondwithinoneday–supportedRIDE’spositionthatitwasunawareoftheComplainant’s APRA request prior to this Department’s inquiry. Based upontheevidencepresented,wecouldnotconcludeRIDEviolatedtheAPRA. Issued April 26, 2017.

PR 17-19 Farinelli v. City of Pawtucket TheCityofPawtucketdidnotviolate theAPRAwhen it sought (and

received) clarification concerning one of four categories in anAPRArequest. Moreover,aCityemployee’sresponsetoafollow-upinquirydidnotconstituteadenialonbehalfoftheCitywheretheCityemployeedid not have “the authority to grant or deny persons or entities access torecords.”R.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-3.2. Issued April 28, 2017.

PR 17-20 Farinelli v. City of Pawtucket TheCityofPawtucketdidnotviolatetheAPRAwhenitwithheldthe

audiorecordingsoftwotelephonecallsplacedtothePoliceDepartmentby the complainant wherein the complainant accused a specific andidentifiablepersonofcommittingacrime.Applyingthebalancingtest,theidentifiableindividualmaintainedsignificantprivacyinterestsandno cognizable public interest was identified that would be advancedthrough disclosure. Issued April 28, 2017.

PR 17-21 Farinelli v. City of Pawtucket TheCitydidnotviolatetheAPRAwhenitwithhelddisclosureofthe

“original”policenarrativespertainingtoaspecificandidentifiabledeathdeterminedtobeasuicide.WhiletheCityhaddisclosedthemodifiedorupdatednarrativeapproximatelytwoyearsago,“thefactthat‘aneventis not wholly private does not mean that an individual has no interest in limiting disclosure or dissemination of the information.’” United StatesDepartmentofJusticev.ReportersCommittee,489U.S.749,770(1989). Even assuming that the disclosure would advance some “public interest,” thecomplaintandrebuttalwere repletewithevidence thatdisclosurewouldinvadesignificantprivacyinterest.Moreover,becausethedocumentconcernedaspecificandidentifiableperson/incident,itwas not susceptible to redaction. Pawtucket Teachers Alliance v. Brady,556A.2d556,559(R.I.1989).Issued April 28, 2017.

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PR 17-22 Farinelli v. City of Pawtucket The Complainant challenges the City response that responsive e-mails

were “overly redacted” and/or not provided. Of the 68 e-mails thatwereprovided ina redactedmanner,63of thesee-mailswere in theComplainant’s possession prior to making the instant APRA request. Accordingly, itwasunnecessaryforustodeterminewhethertheCityviolate the APRA when it provided redacted e-mails. See Farinelli v. CityofPawtucket,PR16-27.Havingreviewedtheremaininge-mailsincamera,wedeterminedthatthesee-mailswereexemptundertheAPRAand/or otherwise within the Complainant’s possession prior to making the instant APRA request. Issued April 28, 2017.

PR 17-23 Sharp v. Department of Corrections The Complainant alleged that the DOC violated the APRA when it

did not provide him access to documents responsive to his request forrecordsontheescapeofJohnGaryRobichaudfromtheACI.Thisescapeoccurredintheearly1970s.Basedonourreviewoftheproduceddocumentsandtheevidencepresented,wefailedtofindanyevidencethatwouldleadustoconcludethatadditionalportionsoftherequesteddocumentsexistwithin theDOCthatarebeingwithheld,or that theDOC search was in anyway inadequate. The Complainant did not present,nordidwefind,anyevidence toestablish that theDOChadadditional documents that were responsive to the APRA request that it refusedtoprovide.Itwassignificantthatthedocumentssoughtwerefromtheearly1970s.Accordingly,baseduponourreviewoftherecord,wefoundnoviolation. Issued May 10, 2017.

PR 17-24 Greenbaum v. Providence Police Department Thedenialofinternalaffairsreportsrelatingtoaparticularincidentdid

not violate the APRA. The Complainant provided no public interest and theprivacyinterestsoftheaffectedindividualsoutweighedthisnon-asserted interest. Issued May 10, 2017.

PR 17-25 Greenbaum v. City of Providence TheCityofProvidenceviolatedtheAPRAwhenitsextensionprovided

nearlyverbatimthelanguagesetforthinR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-3(e)andwasnot“particularizedtothespecificrequestmade.”TheComplainanttooknoissuewiththefactthattheCityhad“goodcause”toassertanextension. Because injunctive relief was inappropriate and becausetherewasnoevidenceofawillfulandknowing,orreckless,violation,thisDepartment tookno further action.VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued May 10, 2017.

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PR 17-26 Nye v. State of Rhode Island The Complainant alleged a violation based on the failure to timely

respond within ten (10) business days, however, after review, thisallegation was determined to be unfounded and a timely responsewasprovided. Moreover, theComplainantalleged thatotheraspectsofthepublicbody’sresponseviolatedtheAPRA.Wedeterminedthatthe estimated search and retrieval cost was reasonable and accurately communicated,andthattheComplainant’sremainingallegationsdidnot violation the APRA. Issued May 11, 2017.

PR 17-27 Koutsogiane v. Cumberland Fire District TheComplainantmadeanAPRArequestseekingcopiesofexpenses/

costsformedicalanddentalinsuranceforallpersonnelforthemonthsofJune,JulyandAugust2016.Basedupontheevidencepresented,theFireDistrictrespondedwithrecords,butforthemonthsofMay,JuneandJuly,insteadofJune,JulyandAugust.TheFireDistrictprovidedtheComplainantwithcopiesoftheAugustrecordsafterhefiledacomplaintwith this Department. This Department has previously determined it is unnecessaryforustoconsiderwhetherapublicbodyviolatedtheAPRA–andthereforeseekinjunctiverelief–whereacomplainantreceivesthesubjectdocumentsafterfilinganAPRAcomplaint.See Farinelli v. CityofPawtucket,PR16-27.Rather,welimitourinquirytowhetherthepublicbodywillfullyandknowing,orrecklessly,violatedtheAPRA.Wefoundnosuchevidenceintheinstantcase.Issued May 11, 2017.

PR 17-28 Harris v. City of Providence The Complainant alleged the City violated the APRA when it improperly

withheld records responsive to her APRA request. The Complainant’s APRA request sought administrative and court pleadings and all settlementagreementsfromJanuary1,2010inwhichaparticularpersonwastheattorneyofrecord.TheCitytimelyrespondedandproducedanumberofdocuments.InsupportoftheAPRAcomplaintthattheCitydidnotproduceallresponsivedocuments,theComplainantsubmittedcopiesofdocumentsfromthree(3)caseswheretheCitywasanameddefendant. Our reviewof thedocket sheets in those three (3) cases,however,revealedthattheparticularpersonatthesubjectoftheAPRArequestwasnotlistedastheattorneyofrecordinanythosecases.ThisDepartment has previously held that the failure of a public body toproducerecordsthatdonotexistorthatarenotresponsivetoanAPRArequest does not violate the APRA. Seee.g.,Harrisv.CityofProvidence,PR 16-37; see also R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 38-2-3(a), (h). Accordingly,wefoundnoviolation. Issued May 11, 2017.

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PR 17-29 DeWolf v. Town of Coventry The Town of Coventry did not violate the APRAwhen the evidence

revealed that although the Complainant did not comply with the Town’sAPRAprocedures,theTownrespondedinatimelymanner.TheComplainant’s rebuttal did not challenge that her APRA request was notmade consistent with the Town’s promulgated APRA procedure,and she admitted that she “did not notice [the Town’s public records requestform]when[she]wrote[her]request.” Accordingly,sincetheAPRA request was not made in a manner consistent with the applicable APRAprocedures,wefindthattheTowndidnotviolatetheAPRA.See Rosenfield v. North Kingstown School Department, PR 14-02 (“ThisDepartmenthaspreviouslydeterminedthatanAPRArequestmustfirstcomportwithapublicbody’sAPRApolicybeforewecandecidewhetheraviolationhasoccurred,andweseenoreasontodepartfromtheplainlanguageoftheAPRAandourfindings.”). Issued May 12, 2017.

PR 17-30 TJ v. City of Providence TheComplainantfiledtwo(2)APRArequestswiththeCityonthesame

date.WithrespecttotheCity’sresponsetooneoftheAPRArequests,the evidence revealed that the City timely responded indicating that it didnotmaintainthedocumentresponsivetothatrequest. WefailedtofindanyevidencethatwouldleadustoconcludethattherequesteddocumentwasmaintainedbytheCity,orthattheCity’ssearchwasinanywayinadequate.Wefoundnoviolationwithrespecttothatallegation.WithrespecttotheotherAPRArequest,wefoundthattheCityviolatedtheAPRAwhen its extensionprovidednearly verbatim the languageset forth inR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-3(e)andwasnot“particularizedtothespecificrequestmade.”Becauseinjunctivereliefwasinappropriateandbecausetherewasnoevidenceofawillfulandknowing,orreckless,violation,thisDepartmenttooknofurtheraction.VIOLATIONFOUND.Issued May 17, 2017.

PR 17-31 Levitt v. Department of Corrections There was no evidence that the DOC unreasonably conducted its search

andretrieval,whichconsistedof twohours, thefirsthourbeing free.BecausetheComplainantdidnottenderpre-payment,asamatteroflaw,theDOCcouldnothavedeniedaccess.R.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-7(b).The DOC did deny the Complainant access to what it interpreted as a requestforidentifiableattendancerecords,butsuchrecordsareexemptfromdisclosureundertheAPRA.See R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b);DirectActionforRightsandEqualityv.Gannon,713A.2d218(R.I.1998). Issued June 14, 2017.

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PR 17-32 Crenshaw v. Community College of Rhode Island ComplainantallegedthattheCCRIviolatedtheAPRAwhenitfailedto

producedocumentsresponsivetohisrequest.WehavepreviouslystatedthattheAPRAgovernsthepublic’srighttoaccesspublicdocuments,but does not mandate or require that public bodies answer questions. SeeGagnonv.CityofEastProvidence,PR12-23;see also Setera v. City of Providence, PR 95-20. The instant request asked an interrogatorythatsoughttoelicitanarrativeanswer.Also,therequestwasnotmadepursuanttotheCCRI’sAPRApolicyandprocedures.Forthesereasons,wefoundthattherequestwasnotacognizablerequestundertheAPRAand,accordingly,foundnoviolation. Issued June 16, 2017.

PR 17-33 Greenbaum v. City of Providence Itwasundisputedthatwehadpreviouslyinvestigated,addressed,and

resolved Complainant’s prior allegations regarding his January 15,2016 APRA request in Greenbaum v. Providence Police Department,PR17-24.ComplainantnowsoughttoraiseanewallegationofviolationregardingthesameAPRArequest,whichhefailedtopreviouslyraise.Wenotedthatthepiecemealfilingofseparatecomplaintsrelatingtothe same APRA request is discouraged. SeeClarkv.WestGlocesterFireDistrict,PR14-29,n.1;seealsoClarkv.WestGlocesterFireDistrict,OM16-14,PR16-51.Whilewedidnotethepossibilitythat,insomelimitedsituationswhereacomplainanthasarticulatedasufficientreasonfordoing so, a complainant may file multiple complaints regarding thesame APRA request, we found that here the Complainant failed toarticulateanyreasonforsplittinghisclaim.Accordingly,wedeclinedtofurtherreviewthematter. Issued June 19, 2017.

PR 17-34 Novak v. Western Coventry Fire District TheComplainant alleged the FireDistrict untimely filed some of its

official and unofficial minutes on the Secretary of State’s website.The OMA provides that “[a]ny citizen or entity of the state who isaggrieved as a result of violations of the provisions of this chaptermayfileacomplaintwiththeattorneygeneral.”R.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002).Here,pursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a),and the standard established in Graziano,thisDepartmentfoundthattheComplainantwas not an“aggrieved” party and therefore had nostanding to bring his complaint. SeeCurt-Hoardv.WoonsocketSchoolBoard,OM14-20;Ayottev.RhodeIslandCommissionontheDeafandHardofHearing,OM17-12.Assuch,wefoundnoOMAviolation.SincetheComplainantwasinpossessionoftherequesteddocuments,weneedonlyexaminewhether thealleged failure toprovide suchdocumentsrepresentedawillfulandknowing,orrecklessviolation.Werespondedin the negative. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued July 12, 2017.

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PR 17-35 Paiva v. Town of Cumberland TheComplainantallegedtheTownofCumberland(“Town”)violatedthe

APRA when it improperly redacted and denied his APRA request seeking recordsconcerningthedeathofathirdparty.InIn re: Cumberland Police Department,ADVPR03-02,thisDepartmentconcludedthat“whenalawenforcementagencyinvestigatesacomplaintanddeterminesthatanarrestisnotwarranted,thereexistsastrongpresumptionthatrecordsarisingoutofthatinvestigationfailtomeetthethresholdrequirementestablished by R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(i)(D)(c).” Whatever publicinterestexistsindisclosure–andbasedonthesefactsandourreviewofthe documents we doubt it is much – the privacy interest outweighs the publicinterest.Wefoundnoviolation.Issued June 23, 2017.

PR 17-36 DiGregorio v. Town of North Kingstown Complainantallegedthat theTownviolatedtheAPRAwhen it failed

toproducecertaindocumentsresponsivetohis requestandfailedtoexplainthedenial.ThisDepartmenthasheldonnumerousoccasionsthat the failureofapublicbodytoproducerecords thatdonotexistdoes not violate the APRA. SeeMurphyv.CityofProvidence,PR15-07. Since no evidence existed that additional documents responsiveto Complainant’s request other than the document already provided existedatthetimeoftherequest,wefoundnoviolation.Wealsofoundthat by indicating that the only document responsive to Complainant’s requestwastheprovideddocument,theTowncompliedwiththeAPRA.SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-7;seealsoSmithv.WarwickPublicSchoolDepartment,PR15-13.Forthesereasons,wefoundnoviolation. Issued July 10, 2017.

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PR 17-37 Providence Journal v. Department of Administration and Office of Health and Human Services

Complainant alleged that the DOA and the OHHS violated the APRA whentheyfailedtotimelyrespondtoorspecificallydenyherrequests/correspondences. After reviewing the voluminous evidence in thismatter,wefoundthattheallegationsconcernedthreeinterrelatedbutlegallydistinctcorrespondences.Becausewefoundthatnoneofthesecorrespondences were addressed to the DOA, we found no violationwithrespecttoDOA.WithrespecttotheOHHS,wefoundthatthefirstcorrespondence was treated as an APRA request and was tolled by a requestforprepaymentpursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-7(b).ItwasundisputedthattheComplainantdidnottendertheprepayment.WithrespecttotheComplainant’ssecondcorrespondence,wefoundthatthenatureoftherequest–madeduringroughlyninetysecondsofafree-flowinghour-longconversation–wasnotsusceptibletodeterminationbythisDepartment.Sincewecouldnotdiscernthenatureofthesecondrequest,we could not find thatOHHS’s response violated theAPRA.With respect to the Complainant’s third correspondence, assumingthatitwasanAPRArequest,wenotedthattheComplainantfiledherComplaintprior to the expirationof theOHHS’ time to respond.WeaccordinglyfoundthatComplainant’sallegationsofviolationwerenotripe.Therefore,we foundnoviolations. Wewerealsoadvised–andthe Complainant did not contest this representation – that subsequent to the filing of this complaint, theOHHShas provided all requestedresponsive documents. Issued July 12, 2017.

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CHAPTER 2ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS38-2-1. Purpose. — The public’s right to access to public records and the

individual’s right to dignity and privacy are both recognized to beprinciplesoftheutmostimportanceinafreesociety.Thepurposeofthischapteristofacilitatepublicaccesstopublicrecords.Itisalsotheintentofthischaptertoprotectfromdisclosureinformationaboutparticularindividuals maintained in the files of public bodies when disclosurewouldconstituteanunwarrantedinvasionofpersonalprivacy.

38-2-2. Definitions. — As used in this chapter:

(1) “Agency”or“publicbody”meansanyexecutive,legislative,judicial,regulatory, or administrative body of the state, or any politicalsubdivisionthereof;including,butnotlimitedto,anydepartment,division,agency,commission,board,office,bureau,authority,anyschool,fire,orwaterdistrict,orotheragencyofRhodeIslandstateor localgovernmentwhichexercisesgovernmentalfunctions,anyauthority asdefined in section42-35-1(b),or anyotherpublicorprivateagency,person,partnership,corporation,orbusinessentityactingonbehalfofand/orinplaceofanypublicagency.

(2) “Chief administrativeofficer”means thehighest authority of thepublic body.

(3) “Publicbusiness”meansanymatteroverwhichthepublicbodyhassupervision,control,jurisdiction,oradvisorypower.

(4) “Public record” or “public records” shall mean all documents,papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, soundrecordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processingrecords,computerstoreddata(includingelectronicmailmessages,exceptspecificallyforanyelectronicmailmessagesofortoelectedofficialswithorrelatingtothosetheyrepresentandcorrespondenceofortoelectedofficialsintheirofficialcapacities)orothermaterialregardless of physical form or characteristics made or receivedpursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction ofofficialbusinessbyanyagency.Forthepurposesofthischapter,thefollowingrecordsshallnotbedeemedpublic:

(A) (I) (a) All records relating to a client/attorney relationship and to a doctor/patient relationship, including all medical informationrelatingtoanindividualinanyfiles;

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(b) Personnel and other personal individually-identifiable recordsotherwisedeemedconfidential by federalor state laworregulation,orthedisclosureofwhichwouldconstitute aclearlyunwarrantedinvasionofpersonalprivacypursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 et. seq.; provided, however, with respect to employees, and employees of contractors and subcontractorsworkingonpublicworksprojectswhichare required tobe listedascertifiedpayrolls, thename,gross salary,salaryrange,totalcostofpaidfringebenefits,gross amountreceivedinovertime,andanyotherremuneration in addition to salary, job title, job description, dates of employmentandpositionsheldwiththestatemunicipality, or public works contractor or subcontractor on public works projects, employment contract, work location, and/or project, business telephone number, the city or town of residence,anddateofterminationshallbepublic.Forthe purposesof this section“remuneration”shall includeany paymentsreceivedbyanemployeeasaresultoftermination, orotherwiseleavingemployment,including,butnotlimited to,paymentsforaccruedsickand/orvacationtime,severance pay,orcompensationpaidpursuanttoacontractbuy-out provision.

(II)Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, or any other provision of the general laws to the contrary, the pension recordsofallpersonswhoareeithercurrentorretiredmembers of any public retirement systems as well as all persons who becomemembersofthoseretirementsystemsafterJune17,1991 shallbeopenforpublic inspection.“Pensionrecords”asused inthissectionshallincludeallrecordscontaininginformation concerning pension and retirement benefits of current and retiredmembersoftheretirementsystemsandfuturemembers of said systems, including all records concerning retirement creditspurchasedandtheabilityofanymemberoftheretirement system to purchase retirement credits, but excluding all informationregardingthemedicalconditionofanypersonand allinformationidentifyingthemember’sdesignatedbeneficiary or beneficiaries unless and until the member’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries have received or are receiving pension and/or retirement benefits through the retirement system.

(B) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtainedfrom a person, firm, or corporation which is of a privileged orconfidentialnature.

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(C) Childcustodyandadoptionrecords,recordsofillegitimatebirths,andrecordsofjuvenileproceedingsbeforethefamilycourt.

(D)All recordsmaintainedby lawenforcement agencies for criminallaw enforcement and all records relating to the detection andinvestigation of crime, including those maintained on anyindividualorcompiledinthecourseofacriminalinvestigationbyanylawenforcementagency.Provided,however,suchrecordsshallnotbedeemedpubliconlytotheextentthatthedisclosureoftherecordsorinformation(a)couldreasonablybeexpectedtointerferewith investigations of criminal activity or with enforcementproceedings, (b)would deprive a personof a right to a fair trialoranimpartialadjudication, (c)couldreasonablybeexpectedtoconstituteanunwarrantedinvasionofpersonalprivacy,(d)couldreasonablybe expected todisclose the identityof a confidentialsource,includingastate,local,orforeignagencyorauthority,oranyprivateinstitutionwhichfurnishedinformationonaconfidentialbasis, or the information furnished by a confidential source, (e)would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcementinvestigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelinesfor law enforcement investigations or prosecutions or (f) couldreasonablybeexpectedtoendangerthelifeorphysicalsafetyofanyindividual.Recordsrelatingtomanagementanddirectionofa law enforcement agency and records or reports reflecting theinitialarrestofanadultandthechargeorchargesbroughtagainstan adult shall be public.

(E) Anyrecordswhichwouldnotbeavailablebylaworruleofcourttoan opposing party in litigation.

(F) Scientific and technological secrets and the security plans ofmilitary and law enforcement agencies, the disclosure of whichwouldendangerthepublicwelfareandsecurity.

(G) Any records which disclose the identity of the contributor of abona fide and lawful charitable contribution to the public bodywheneverpublicanonymityhasbeenrequestedofthepublicbodywith respect to the contribution by the contributor.

(H) Reportsandstatementsofstrategyornegotiationinvolvinglabornegotiations or collective bargaining.

(I) Reportsandstatementsofstrategyornegotiationwithrespecttothe investment or borrowing of public funds, until such time asthose transactions are entered into.

(J) Anyminutesofameetingofapublicbodywhicharenotrequiredtobedisclosedpursuanttochapter46oftitle42.

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(K) Preliminary drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, workingpapers,andworkproducts, including those involving research at state institutions of higher education on commercial, scientific,artistic,technicalorscholarlyissues,whetherinelectronicorotherformat;provided,however,anydocumentssubmittedatapublicmeetingofapublicbodyshallbedeemedpublic.

(L) Testquestions,scoringkeys,andotherexaminationdatausedtoadministeralicensingexamination,examinationforemploymentorpromotion,oracademicexaminations;provided,however,thata person shall have the right to review the results of his or herexamination.

(M)Correspondenceofortoelectedofficialswithorrelatingtothosetheyrepresentandcorrespondenceofortoelectedofficialsintheirofficialcapacities.

(N) Thecontentsof realestateappraisals,engineering,or feasibilityestimates and evaluationsmade for or by an agency relative tothe acquisition of property or to prospective public supply andconstruction contracts, until such time as all of the propertyhas been acquired or all proceedings or transactions have been terminated or abandoned; provided the law of eminent domainshallnotbeaffectedbythisprovision.

(O) Alltaxreturns.

(P) All investigatory records of public bodies,with the exception oflaw enforcement agencies, pertaining to possible violations ofstatute,rule,orregulationotherthanrecordsoffinalactionstakenprovidedthatallrecordspriortoformalnotificationofviolationsor noncompliance shall not be deemed to be public.

(Q) Recordsofindividualtestscoresonprofessionalcertificationandlicensing examinations; provided, however, that a person shallhavetherighttoreviewtheresultsofhisorherexamination.

(R) Requestsforadvisoryopinionsuntilsuchtimeasthepublicbodyissues its opinion.

(S) Records, reports,opinions, information,andstatementsrequiredtobekeptconfidentialbyfederallaworregulationorstatelaw,orruleofcourt.

(T) Judicialbodiesareincludedinthedefinitiononlyinrespecttotheiradministrativefunctionprovidedthatrecordskeptpursuanttotheprovisionsofchapter16oftitle8areexemptfromtheoperationofthis chapter.

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(U) Library records which by themselves or when examined withotherpublicrecords,wouldrevealtheidentityofthelibraryuserrequesting,checkingout,orusinganylibrarymaterials.

(V) PrintoutsfromTELE-TEXTdevicesusedbypeoplewhoaredeaforhardofhearingorspeechimpaired.

(W) All recordsreceivedbythe insurancedivisionof thedepartmentofbusinessregulationfromotherstates,eitherdirectlyorthroughthe National Association of Insurance Commissioners, if thoserecordsareaccordedconfidentialtreatmentinthatstate.Nothingcontainedinthistitleoranyotherprovisionoflawshallpreventorbeconstruedasprohibitingthecommissionerofinsurancefromdisclosing otherwise confidential information to the insurancedepartmentofthisoranyotherstateorcountry;atanytime,solongastheagencyorofficereceivingtherecordsagreesinwritingtoholditconfidentialinamannerconsistentwiththelawsofthisstate.

(X) Credit card account numbers in the possession of state or localgovernment are confidential and shall not be deemed publicrecords.

(Y) Anydocumentarymaterial,answerstowritteninterrogatories,ororal testimony provided under any subpoena issued under Rhode Island General Law § 9-1.1-6.

(Z) AnyIndividuallyidentifiableevaluationsofpublicschoolteachersmadepursuanttostateorfederallaworregulation.

(AA) All documents prepared by school districts intended to be used byschooldistrictsinprotectingthesafetyoftheirstudentsfrompotential and actual threats.

38-2-3. Right to inspect and copy records—Duty tomaintainminutes ofmeetings—Proceduresforaccess.—

(a) Exceptasprovidedin§38-2-2(4),allrecordsmaintainedorkepton filebyanypublicbody,whetherornotthoserecordsarerequired byanylaworbyanyruleorregulation,shallbepublicrecordsand every person or entity shall have the right to inspect and/or copy those records at such reasonable time as may be determined by the custodianthereof.

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(b) Anyreasonablysegregableportionofapublicrecordexcludedbysubdivision38-2-2(4)shallbeavailableforpublicinspectionafterthedeletionoftheinformationwhichisthebasisoftheexclusion.Ifanentiredocumentorrecord isdeemednon-public, thepublicbodyshallstateinwritingthatnoportionofthedocumentorrecordcontainsreasonablesegregableinformationthatisreleasable.

(c) Eachpublicbodyshallmake,keep,andmaintainwrittenorrecordedminutesofallmeetings.

(d) Each public body shall establish written procedures regarding accesstopublicrecordsbutshallnotrequirewrittenrequestsforpublicinformationavailablepursuanttoR.I.G.L.section42-35-2orforotherdocumentspreparedfororreadilyavailabletothepublic.

These procedures must include, but need not be limited to, theidentificationofadesignatedpublicrecordsofficerorunit,howtomakeapublicrecordsrequest,andwhereapublicrecordrequestshouldbemade,andacopyoftheseproceduresshallbepostedonthepublic body’swebsite if such awebsite ismaintained andbemade otherwise readily available to the public. The unavailability of a designated public records officer shall not be deemed goodcauseforfailuretotimelycomplywitharequesttoinspectand/orcopypublicrecordspursuanttosubsection(e).Awrittenrequestforpublicrecordsneednotbemadeonaformestablishedbyapublicbodyiftherequestisotherwisereadilyidentifiableasarequestforpublic records.

(e) A public body receiving a request shall permit the inspection or copyingwithinten(10)businessdaysafterreceivingarequest.Ifthe inspection or copying is not permitted within ten (10) business days,thepublicbodyshallforthwithexplaininwritingtheneedforadditionaltimetocomplywiththerequest.Anysuchexplanationmustbeparticularizedtothespecificrequestmade.Insuchcasesthe public body may have up to an additional twenty (20) business days to comply with the request if it can demonstrate that thevoluminousnatureoftherequest,thenumberofrequestsforrecordspending,orthedifficultyinsearchingforandretrievingorcopyingtherequestedrecords,issuchthatadditionaltimeisnecessarytoavoid imposing an undue burden on the public body.

(f) Ifapublicrecordisinactiveuseorinstorageand,therefore,notavailableatthetimeapersonorentityrequestsaccess,thecustodianshallsoinformthepersonorentityandmakeanappointmentforthepersonor entity to examine such records as expeditiously asthey may be made available.

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(g) Anypersonorentityrequestingcopiesofpublicrecordsmayelectto obtain them in any and all media in which the public agency is capable of providing them. Any public bodywhichmaintains itsrecords in a computer storage system shall provide any data properly identifiedinaprintoutorotherreasonableformat,asrequested.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a public body toreorganize,consolidate,orcompiledatanotmaintainedbythepublicbodyintheformrequestedatthetimetherequesttoinspectthepublicrecordswasmadeexcepttotheextentthatsuchrecordsareinanelectronicformatandthepublicbodywouldnotbeundulyburdened in providing such data.

(i) Nothinginthissectionisintendedtoaffectthepublicrecordstatusofinformationmerelybecauseitisstoredinacomputer.

(j) Nopublicrecordsshallbewithheldbasedonthepurposeforwhichtherecordsaresought,norshallapublicbodyrequire,asaconditionoffulfillingapublicrecordsrequest,thatapersonorentityprovideareasonfortherequestorprovidepersonallyidentifiableinformationabouthim/herself.

(k)At the election of the person or entity requesting the publicrecords,thepublicbodyshallprovidecopiesofthepublicrecordselectronically, by facsimile, or by mail in accordance with therequesting person or entity’s choice, unless complyingwith thatpreference would be unduly burdensome due to the volume ofrecords requested or the costs that would be incurred. The person requesting delivery shall be responsible for the actual cost ofdelivery,ifany.

38-2-3.1. Records required.— All records required to be maintained pursuant to

thischaptershallnotbereplacedorsupplementedwiththeproductofa“real-timetranslationreporter.”

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38-2-3.2. Arrest logs. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 38-2-3(e), the

following information reflecting an initial arrest of an adult and charge or charges shall bemade availablewithin forty-eight (48) hoursafterreceiptofarequestunlessarequestismadeonaweekend orholiday,inwhicheventtheinformationshallbemadeavailable within seventy-two (72) hours, to the extent such information is known by the public body:

(1) Fullnameofthearrestedadult;(2) Home address of the arrested adult, unless doing so would

identifyacrimevictim;(3) Yearofbirthofthearrestedadult;(4) Chargeorcharges;(5) Dateofthearrest;(6) Timeofthearrest;(7) Genderofthearrestedadult;(8) Raceofthearrestedadult;and(9) Nameofthearrestingofficerunlessdoingsowouldidentifyan

undercoverofficer. (b) Theprovisionsofthissectionshallapplytoarrestsmadewithinfive

(5) days prior to the request.

38-2-3.16. Compliance by agencies and public bodies. – Not later than January 1,2013,andannuallythereafter,thechiefadministratorofeachagencyand each public body shall state in writing to the attorney general that all officers and employees who have the authority to grant or denypersons or entities access to records under this chapter have been provided orientation and training regarding this chapter. The attorney generalmay, inaccordancewith theprovisionsof chapter35of title42, promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement therequirementsofthissection.

38-2-4. Cost.

(a)Subjecttotheprovisionsofsection38-2-3,apublicbodymustallowcopiestobemadeorprovidecopiesofpublicrecords.Thecostpercopiedpageofwrittendocumentsprovidedtothepublicshallnotexceed fifteen cents ($.15) per page for documents copyable oncommonbusinessorlegalsizepaper.Apublicbodymaynotchargemore than the reasonable actual cost for providing electronicrecordsorretrievingrecordsfromstoragewherethepublicbodyisassessedaretrievalfee.

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(b)A reasonable charge may be made for the search or retrieval ofdocuments.Hourlycostsforasearchandretrievalshallnotexceedfifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour and no costs shall be chargedforthefirsthourofasearchorretrieval.Forthepurposesofthissubsection,multiplerequestsfromanypersonorentitytothesamepublic body within a thirty (30) day time period shall be considered one request.

(c)Copiesofdocumentsshallbeprovidedandthesearchandretrievalofdocumentsaccomplishedwithinareasonabletimeafterarequest.Apublicbodyuponrequest,shallprovideanestimateofthecostsofarequestfordocumentspriortoprovidingcopies.

(d)Uponrequest,thepublicbodyshallprovideadetaileditemizationofthecostschargedforsearchandretrieval.

(e)Acourtmayreduceorwaivethefeesforcostschargedforsearchorretrievalifitdeterminesthattheinformationrequestedisinthepublicinterestbecauseitislikelytocontributesignificantlytopublicunderstandingoftheoperationsoractivitiesofthegovernmentandisnotprimarilyinthecommercialinterestoftherequester.

38-2-5. Effect of chapter on broader agency publication — Existing rights

— Judicial records and proceedings. — Nothing in this chapter shall be:

(1)Construedaspreventinganypublicbodyfromopeningitsrecordsconcerningtheadministrationofthebodytopublicinspection;

(2) Construed as limiting the right of access as it existed prior toJuly1,1979,ofanindividualwhoisthesubjectofarecordtotheinformationcontainedherein;or

(3) Deemed in any manner to affect the status of judicial recordsas they existed prior to July 1, 1979, nor to affect the rights oflitigants in either criminal or civil proceedings, including partiestoadministrativeproceedings,underthelawsofdiscoveryofthisstate.

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38-2-7. Denial of access.

(a)Anydenialoftherighttoinspectorcopyrecords,inwholeorinpartprovidedforunderthischaptershallbemadetothepersonorentityrequesting the right inwritinggiving the specific reasons for thedenialwithinten(10)businessdaysoftherequestandindicatingthe procedures for appealing the denial. Except for good causeshown,anyreasonnotspecificallyset forth inthedenialshallbedeemed waived by the public body.

(b) Failure to comply with a request to inspect or copy the public record within the ten (10) business day period shall be deemed to beadenial.Exceptthatforgoodcause,thislimitmaybeextendedin accordancewith theprovisions of subsection 38-2-3(e) of thischapter.Allcopyingandsearchandretrievalfeesshallbewaivedifapublicbodyfailstoproducerequestedrecordsinatimelymanner;provided, however, that the production of records shall not bedeemeduntimelyifthepublicbodyisawaitingreceiptofpaymentforcostsproperlychargedundersection38-2-4.

(c) A public body that receives a request to inspect or copy records thatdonotexistorarenotwithin itscustodyorcontrolshall, inrespondingtotherequestinaccordancewiththischapter,statethatit does not have or maintain the requested records.

38-2-8. Administrative appeals.

(a) Anypersonorentitydeniedtherighttoinspectarecordofapublicbodymaypetitionthechiefadministrativeofficerofthatpublicbodyforareviewofthedeterminationsmadebyhisorhersubordinate.The chief administrative officer shallmake a final determinationwhether or not to allow public inspection within ten (10) business daysafterthesubmissionofthereviewpetition.

(b) If the custodianof the recordsor the chief administrativeofficerdetermines that the record is not subject to public inspection,thepersonorentityseekingdisclosuremayfileacomplaintwiththe attorney general. The attorney general shall investigate the complaint and if the attorney general shall determine thatthe allegations of the complaint are meritorious, he or she mayinstituteproceedingsforinjunctiveordeclaratoryreliefonbehalfof thecomplainant in thesuperiorcourtof thecountywheretherecord is maintained. Nothing within this section shall prohibit any individualorentityfromretainingprivatecounselforthepurposeofinstitutingproceedingsforinjunctiveordeclaratoryreliefinthesuperiorcourtofthecountywheretherecordismaintained.

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(c) Theattorneygeneralshallconsiderallcomplaintsfiledunderthischaptertohavealsobeenfiledpursuanttotheprovisionsof§42-46-8(a),ifapplicable.

(d) Nothingwithinthissectionshallprohibittheattorneygeneralfrominitiatingacomplaintonbehalfofthepublicinterest.

38-2-9. Jurisdiction of superior court.

(a) Jurisdiction to hear and determine civil actions brought under this chapter is hereby vested in the superior court.

(b) Thecourtmayexamineanyrecordwhichisthesubjectofasuitincameratodeterminewhethertherecordoranypartthereofmaybewithheldfrompublicinspectionunderthetermsofthischapter.

(c) Actions brought under this chapter may be advanced on the calendaruponmotionofanyparty,orsuaspontebythecourtmadeinaccordancewiththerulesofcivilprocedureofthesuperiorcourt.

(d) The court shall impose a civil fine not exceeding two thousanddollars ($2,000) against a public body or official found to havecommitted a knowing andwillful violation of this chapter, and acivil fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) against apublicbodyfoundtohaverecklesslyviolatedthischapterandshallawardreasonableattorneyfeesandcoststotheprevailingplaintiff.Thecourtshallfurtherorderapublicbodyfoundtohavewrongfullydenied access to public records to provide the records at no cost to theprevailingparty;provided, further, that in the event that thecourt,havingfoundinfavorofthedefendant,findsfurtherthattheplaintiff’scase lackedagrounding in factor inexisting lawor ingoodfaithargumentfortheextension,modification,orreversalofexisting law, thecourtmayawardattorneys feesandcosts to theprevailingdefendant.Ajudgmentintheplaintiff’sfavorshallnotbeaprerequisitetoobtaininganawardofattorneys’feesand/orcostsifthecourtdeterminesthatthedefendant’scaselackedgroundingin factor inexisting laworagood faithargument forextension,modificationorreversalofexistinglaw.

38-2-10. Burden of proof. —Inallactionsbroughtunderthischapter,theburden

shall be on the public body to demonstrate that the record in dispute canbeproperlywithheldfrompublicinspectionunderthetermsofthischapter.

38-2-11. Right supplemental.—Therightofthepublictoinspectpublicrecordscreated by this chapter shall be in addition to any other right to inspect records maintained by public bodies.

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38-2-12. Severability.—Ifanyprovisionofthischapterisheldunconstitutional,thedecisionshallnotaffectthevalidityoftheremainderofthischapter.Iftheapplicationofthischaptertoaparticularrecordisheldinvalid,thedecisionshallnotaffectotherapplicationsofthischapter.

38-2-13. Records access continuing. — All records initially deemed to be public records which any person may inspect and/or copy under the provisionsofthischapter,shallcontinuetobesodeemedwhetherornot subsequent court action or investigations are held pertaining to the matters contained in the records.

38-2-14. Information relating to settlement of legal claims. — Settlement agreementsofanylegalclaimsagainstagovernmentalentityshallbedeemed public records.

38-2-15. Reported violations. — Every year the attorney general shall prepare a report summarizing all the complaints received pursuant to thischapter, which shall be submitted to the legislature andwhich shallinclude information as to how many complaints were found to bemeritorious and the action taken by the attorney general in response to those complaints.

ATT

ORNEY GENERAL

ST

AT

E OF RHODE IS

LA

ND

SECTION II

Open Meetings Act

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OPEN MEETINGSACT FINDINGS – 2017OM 17-01 Novak v. Coventry Charter Review Commission TheOMArequiresthatthe“unofficialminutesshallbeavailabletothe

publicat theofficeof thepublicbody,within thirty-five (35)daysofthemeetingoratthenextregularlyscheduledmeeting,whichever isearlier.”See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b)(1). The Coventry Charter Review Committee (“CCRC”) violated the OMA when the October 27, 2015meeting minutes were not made available to the Complainant when he visitedtheCoventryTownHallonJanuary8,2016.Weconcludedthatthe Complainant did not demonstrate that he was aggrieved as a result of his allegation concerning improper notice for the January 7, 2016meeting as the evidence revealed he attended the meeting at issue. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a). VIOLATION FOUND. Issued February 21, 2017.

OM 17-02 Novak v. Western Coventry Fire District The FireDistrict violated theOMAwhen it untimely filed a number

ofitsunofficialandofficialand/orapprovedminutesontheSecretaryofState’swebsiteforanumberofitsBoardofDirectorsandStandardAdministrative Procedures meetings. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b)(2) and (d). While its failure to do so violated theOMA,wedidnotfind a willful or knowing violation, considering the totality of thecircumstances.Oneoftheconsiderationswasthat,unlikeotherpublicbodieswhomayextendthetimetofiletheirunofficialminutes,afiredistrictmaynotextendthetimeframeforfilingitsunofficialminutes.See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b)(2). VIOLATION FOUND. Issued February 21, 2017.

OM 17-03 Miller, et al. v. Chariho School Committee Nine complainants filed a thirty-seven page complaint alleging

numerous OMA violations committed by the School District. Afterreviewingalltheevidencesubmitted,thesoleviolationwefoundwasthattheSchoolDistricttookavoteinexecutivesessiontoamendtheexecutivesessionminutesofapriormeetingandthevoterecordedintheexecutivesessionminutes(onthemotiontoamend)wasdifferentthan thevote recorded in theopen sessionminutes. Ifpossible, theSchool District was advised to amend its minutes to reconcile this discrepancy. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued March 2, 2017.

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OM 17-04 Bruckner v. Lincoln School Committee The Complainant alleged that the School Committee violated the OMA

by improperly sharing her correspondence during executive session.The Complainant was unable to attend the meeting in question forunrelatedreasons.TheOMAprovidesthat“[a]nycitizenorentityofthestatewhoisaggrievedasaresultofviolationsoftheprovisionsofthischaptermayfileacomplaintwiththeattorneygeneral.”R.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810 A.2d 215 (R.I. 2002) (Noting that the burden of demonstratingsuch a grievance is upon the party who seeks to establish standing to object).Here,pursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a),andthestandardestablished in Graziano,theComplainantdidnotdemonstratethatshewas“insomewaydisadvantagedoraggrieved”bytheexecutivesessiondiscussion, and, as such, had no standing to object. Accordingly, wefoundnoviolation. Issued March 14, 2017.

OM 17-05 Stranahan v. West Warwick Board of Canvassers TheComplainantallegedthattheBOCviolatedtheOMAwhenitfailed

tonoticeasecondBOCmeetingonJuly20,2016andwhenitpostedaninsufficientagendaitemfortheBOC’smeetingonAugust9,2016.TheComplainant attended both meetings in question. The OMA provides that“[a]nycitizenorentityofthestatewhoisaggrievedasaresultofviolationsof theprovisionsof thischaptermayfileacomplaintwiththeattorneygeneral.”R.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.Rhode Island State Lottery Commission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002).Here,pursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a),andthestandardestablishedinGraziano,theComplainantdidnotdemonstratethathewas“insomeway disadvantaged or aggrieved” by the alleged violations. Indeed,thisDepartment’sreviewoftheaudiorecordingoftheAugust9,2016meetingindicatednothingthatcouldbefairlyconstruedtoshowthattheComplainantwasunpreparedfororunabletorespondtotheagendaitemsdiscussed.Assuch,theComplainanthadnostandingtoobject.Accordingly,wefoundnoviolation. Issued April 3, 2017.

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OM 17-06 Appolonia v. West Warwick Board of Canvassers The Complainant alleged that the BOC violated the OMA when it

discussedandvotedonamatterthatwasnotspecificallylistedonthemeeting’sagenda.Specifically,weexaminedwhethertheBOC’sdenialofamotionforissuanceofasubpoenawasadequatelynoticedbythemeeting’sagendaitem“STRANAHANVS.PADULAHEARING-STATUS.”Based on the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decisions in Tanner v. Town ofEastGreenwich,880A.2d784(R.I.2005),Anolikv.ZoningBoardofReviewoftheCityofNewport,64A.3d1171(R.I.2013),andPontarelli v. Rhode Island Board Council on Elementary and Secondary Education et al.,151A.3d301(R.I.2016),wefoundthattheagendaitemheredidnotsufficientlyspecifythenatureofthebusinesstobediscussedandtherefore violated theOMA.We further noted that the BOC’s quasi-judicial status did not exempt it from the OMA’s requirements andthattheBOC’srequestforflexibilityinconductingmeetingsisalreadyprovidedforbytheOMA.VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued April 3, 2017.

OM 17-07 Keegan v. Burrillville Town Council – Silva v. Burrillville Town Council

The Town Council did not violate the OMA as there was no evidence that a quorum of its members discussed outside the public purview(onJune7,2016)thedisclosureofapressreleaseand/oraResolution.Rather, the undisputed evidence revealed that the Town Clerk/TownManager authorized the releaseof thepress release. Therewas alsono evidence that the Town Council discussed the Resolution prior to itsJune8,2016meetingoutsidethepublicpurviewinviolationoftheOMA,andinfact, theevidencerevealedthatthismatterwasnoticedon a prior TownCouncil agenda. Lastly, theTownCouncil providedadequateandsufficientpublicnoticeforitsJune8,2016agenda.Issued April 3, 2017.

OM 17-08 Esposito, et al v. Scituate School Committee and Superintendent Search Subcommittee

Complainants alleged numerous OMA violations. With respectto the sufficiency of an agenda item for the School Committee’smeeting,Complainantsattendedthemeetinginquestionandhadtheopportunitytovoicetheirconcernsonthisissueand,accordingly,wefoundthatComplainantswerenotaggrievedandthushadnostandingtoobjecttotheagenda.SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a).WithrespecttotheallegationsregardingfailuretopostwrittennoticeandmeetingminutesfortheSearchSubcommittee’smeeting,weexaminedwhethertheSearchSubcommitteewasa“publicbody”undertheOMA.BasedonSolas v. Emergency Hiring Council,774A.2d820(R.I.2001)andPontarelli

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v. Rhode Island Board Council on Elementary and Secondary Education,151A.3d301(R.I.2016),welookedtotheSearchSubcommittee’sscopeofdelegatedauthority.Theevidencedemonstrated,inter alia,thattheSearchSubcommitteescreenedalltheapplicantsforthesuperintendentposition, interviewed candidates, and eliminated from considerationvarious applicants, ultimately advancing only one candidate to theSchoolCommittee.Accordingly,theSearchSubcommitteetookaction,an exercise of authority which ismarkedly distinguishable from the“informal, strictly advisory” role the entity had taken in Pontarelli,151A.3dat308.Assuch,wefoundthattheSearchSubcommitteeisa“publicbody”subjecttotheOMA’srequirementsand,consequently,wefoundthattheSearchSubcommitteeviolatedtheOMAwhenitfailedtopostwrittennoticeandmeetingminutesforitsmeeting.See R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-46-6(b), 42-46-7(a). However, we found injunctive reliefinappropriateanddidnotfindanyevidenceofawillfulandknowingviolation. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued April 11, 2017.

OM 17-09 Pierson v. Coventry Board of Canvassers and Registration ComplainantallegedthattheBOCviolatedtheOMAwhenitfailedto

timelypost itsagendafor itsSeptember15,2016meeting.While theComplainantattendedthemeeting,theevidenceindicatedthatthelatenoticelefttheComplainantlittletimetoarrangehisscheduleandthathemissedagoodportionofthemeeting’ssubstance.Accordingly,wefound that theComplainantwas aggrieved.See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a). Turning to themerits, we found that the drawing of namestodeterminetheballotorderwasan“action”overwhichtheBOChas“supervision,control,jurisdiction,oradvisorypower[,]”andaccordinglythataBOC“meeting”wasconvenedonSeptember15, 2016.See R.I. Gen.Laws§42-46-2(1).AlthoughwefoundthattheBOCviolatedtheOMA,wenotedthattheBOC’sattemptstorectifyitsviolationbygivingnoticeinwritingtoeachofthecandidateswhomighthavebeenaffectedbythemeeting,includingtheComplainant,militatedagainstafindingthat the BOC willfully or knowing violated the OMA. VIOLATIONFOUND. Issued April 14, 2017.

OM 17-10 Nye v. State of Rhode Island The Complainant alleged that various meetings were not posted on the

SecretaryofState’swebsite,buttheComplainantreadilyacknowledgedhehadnointentionofattendingallmeetingsexceptforaMay3,2016meeting. Withrespect totheMay3,2016meeting, theComplainantreadanewspaperarticleoneither thedayof themeetingor thedaybeforethemeetingindicatingthatameetingwouldbeheld.Forthesereasons,wedetermined that theComplainantwasnotaggrievedandtherefore found no violation. See Graziano v. Rhode Island LotteryCommission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002).Issued April 14, 2017.

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OM 17-11 Dion v. Central Coventry Fire District TheCentralCoventryFireDistrict (“FireDistrict”) violated theOMA

whenituntimelyfiledthree(3)ofitsmeetingsminutesontheSecretaryofState’swebsite.SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-7(b)(2).WithrespecttotheComplainant’sallegationthattheminutesfortwo(2)ofitsmeetingsdidnotreflectthevotesofthemembersoftheFireDistrict,wefoundnoviolation.Ourreviewoftheevidencepresentedrevealednomeetingswere held on those two (2) dates. VIOLATION FOUND. Issued April 25, 2017.

OM 17-12 Ayotte v. Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Complainant alleged that the RICDHH violated the OMA when it failedtotimelypostmeetingminutesontheSecretaryofState’swebsiteforninemeetings.TheOMAprovides that“[a]ny citizenor entityofthe statewho is aggrieved as a result of violations of the provisionsof this chaptermay file a complaint with the attorney general.” R.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002).Here,pursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a),andthestandardestablishedinGraziano,theComplainantprovided no indication that he was aggrieved during the time period when the meeting minutes should have been posted but were not. As such,theComplainanthadnostandingtoobject.Accordingly,wefoundno violation. Issued April 27, 2017.

OM 17-13 Farley v. Newport Housing Authority and Newport Development Corporation

The Complainant alleged the Newport Housing Authority and the Newport Development Corporation (“Authority and Corporation”)violated the OMA when it did not post notice for its July 14, 2016meeting.WefoundnoviolationsincetheComplainantdidnotprovideanyevidencethatameetinginfactoccurredonthatdatenordidtheComplainant provide any evidence to contradict the Authority and Corporation’sassertionthatameetingwasnotheldinJuly.WithrespecttotheComplainant’sallegationthattheJune9,2016meetingminuteswerenotpostedontheSecretaryofState’swebsite,weconcludednoviolation.TheComplainantallegedthattheAuthorityandCorporation,as a quasi-public municipalentity,fellwithinthepurviewofR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-7(d).RhodeIslandGeneralLaws§42-46-7(d)states,inpertinentpart,“[a]llpublicbodieswiththeexecutivebranchofthestate government and all state public andquasi-publicboards,agenciesandcorporations***shallfileacopyoftheminutesofallopenmeetingswiththesecretaryofstateforinspection***withinthirty-five(35)daysofthemeeting...”(emphasesadded).Aswehavenotedonprevious

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occasions,thisparticularprovisiondoesnotapplytomunicipalentities.Toconcludethatmunicipalentitiesdonot fallwithinthepurviewofR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-7(d),butthatmunicipalquasi-publicentitiesdofallwithinthatpurviewwouldleadtoanillogicalresultandcontradicttheplainlanguageoftheOMA.SeeMacomberv.WarrenTownCouncil,OM 13-21. Issued April 28, 2017.

OM 17-14 Avanzato v. North Kingstown Town Council The Town Council TownManager Search Citizen Panel violated the

OMAduring its January20,2016meetingwhenthediscussionswerenotappropriateforexecutivesession.Ourreviewfoundnodiscussionconcerningthejobperformance,character,orphysical/mentalhealthofany applicants. SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-5(a)(1);Medeiros v. Tiverton Town Council, OM 00-14 (the Town Council violated the OMA bydiscussingtheformationofpotentialinterviewquestionsinexecutivesessionsincethesediscussionsfalloutsideR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-5(a)(1));Moon v. East Greenwich Fire District,OM96-23(closedsessiontoopenjobapplicationswasimproper). BecauseweconcludedthattheexecutivesessiondiscussionwasnotappropriateforexecutivesessionwerequiredthereleasetheJanuary20,2016executivesessionmeetingminutes. No actionwas takenduring thismeeting, and accordingly,furtherinjunctivereliefwasinappropriate.VIOLATIONFOUND.Issued May 12, 2017.

OM 17-15 Desmarais v. Manville Fire District There was no evidence that the Complainant sought access to minutes

that allegedly were not available or not posted in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws 42-46-7(b)(2) and (d), and based upon this evidence, thisDepartmentdeterminedtheComplainantwasnotaggrieved.Wefoundno violation. Issued May 12, 2017.

OM 17-16 Sparks v. Town of Foster TheTownofFoster(“Town”)didnotviolatetheOMAbecause,based

upon the evidence presented, there was no evidence that a quorumof theTownCouncilmembersmetoutside thepurviewofaproperlynoticed meeting and discussed matters over which the Town Council had supervision,control,jurisdictionoradvisorypower.TheComplainantdid not provide any evidence to contradict the Town Council members’ assertion in their affidavits that no such discussions occurred. TheComplainantfurtherallegedtheTown’sZoningBoardviolatedtheOMAduring a meeting when it received a letter requesting that an agenda item be continued. The Complainant did not respond or provide any evidence to counter the Town’s argument that he was not aggrieved by this alleged violation since he attended the meeting in question. As

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such,wefoundthattheComplainantlackedstandingtobringthisclaim.EvenifweconcludedthattheComplainanthadstandingtobringthisclaim,wehavepreviouslynotedthatacontinuanceforameetingisnotgoverned by the OMA. SeePezziv.WarwickZoningBoard,OM06-05.Issued June 16, 2017.

OM 17-17 Ramos v. Bristol Town Council – No Violation Because the Town Council re-adopted the resolution that it had passed on

April5,2017,injunctivereliefwasnotanappropriateremedy.Moreover,our review found no evidence of a willful or knowing violation, andindeed,theComplainantdidnotallegedawillfulorknowingviolation.Forthesereasons,thecomplaintwasmoot. Issued June 19, 2017.

OM 17-18 Plunkett v. Westerly School Committee The Complainant alleged the Westerly School Committee (“School

Committee”) violated the OMA when the Chairman of the SchoolCommittee read a statement during the Public Comment section ofoneofitsmeeting,yettherewasnoitemontheagendaindicatingthestatement would be read. Consistent with R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a) and the standard established in Grazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002),weconcludedthattheComplainantdid not demonstrate that he was in some way disadvantaged or aggrieved by theSchoolCommittee’s allegedlydeficientnotice. Theburdenofdemonstrating such a grievance is upon the party who seeks to establish standingtoobjecttothenotice.Thisfailuretosufficientlyarticulatehowtheallegeddeficientpostingdisadvantagedhimindividuallywasfataltohisclaim. TheComplainantwasnotaggrievedandthereforehad no standing to bring this allegation. Issued June 21, 2017.

OM 17-19 Brunetti, et al. v. Town of Johnston Complainants alleged numerous OMA violations relating to a January

10,2017TownCouncilmeeting.Withrespecttotheallegeddefectinthenoticeforthemeeting,wefoundthatseveralComplainantsattendedthemeeting inquestionandthatnoComplainantsufficientlyarticulatedhowtheywereaggrievedbytheallegeddefect.Accordingly,wefoundthatComplainantswerenotaggrieved.SeeR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810A.2d215 (R.I.2002).With respect to theallegations regarding insufficientvenue,wenotedthattheOMA“doesnotrequireapublicbodytoprovideunlimitedseating.”See InreTownofWestWarwick,ADVOM99-02;seealsoDanielsv.WarwickLongTermFacilitiesPlanningCommittee,OM 14-02. The evidence demonstrated that the venue had a capacity of eighty-seven. Additionally, the affidavits submitted by the Townrevealednoevidenceofpreferentialtreatmentwithrespecttoseating,

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no evidence that the Town knew the attendance would exceed themeetingspaceuntilaboutanhourbeforethemeetingwasscheduledtobegin,andnoevidencethatmovingthemeetingtoalargerspacewasfeasibleorpossible.WesimplyfoundnothingintheOMAthatrequired theTowntomove its January10,2017meetingbeyonditsscheduledlocation under these circumstances. With respect to the allegationsthattheMayorconducteda“rollingquorum”withmembersoftheTownCouncil,wesimilarlyfoundnoviolation.Basedontheundisputedfacts,wefoundnoevidencethattheMayorservedasaconduitthatconnectedthe three separate communications with Town Council members and therefore found no evidence of any collective discussion that wouldconstitutea“meeting”undertheOMA.See Guarino,OM14-07.IssuedJune 30, 2017.

OM 17-20 Bleczinski v. Warwick School Committee The Complainant alleged that the School Committee violated the

OMA when it deliberated with its attorney outside of open session.We previously addressed a nearly identical question in In re: Rhode Island Ethics Commission,ADVOM00-03.There,wefoundthatpublicbody “members who merely address questions to legal counsel (and receiveanswersfromlegalcounsel)willnotconstitutea‘meeting’forpurposesoftheOMA.”Id.Here,consistentwithourpreviousfinding,counselfortheSchoolCommitteemetwiththeSchoolCommitteeandansweredquestions.Basedontheuncontrovertedevidence,wefoundno indication that a collective discussion took place and thus foundthat no“meeting” occurred pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(1).Accordingly,wefoundnoviolation.Issued June 30, 2017.

OM 17-21 Valley Breeze v. North Smithfield Town Council TheNorthSmithfieldTownCouncildidnotviolate theOMAwhen it

convenedintoexecutivesessionforlitigationpurposespursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-5(a)(2).Areviewoftheexecutivesessionminutesdetermined that the subject-matter was appropriate for executivesession.Also,theTownCouncildidnotviolatetheOMAwhenitdidnotdisclose the executive session vote since suchdisclosurewouldhavejeopardizedanystrategy,negotiation,orinvestigationundertaken.See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4(b). Issued July 5, 2017.

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OM 17-22 Novak v. Western Coventry Fire District TheComplainant alleged the FireDistrict untimely filed some of its

official and unofficial minutes on the Secretary of State’s website.The OMA provides that “[a]ny citizen or entity of the state who isaggrieved as a result of violations of the provisions of this chaptermayfileacomplaintwiththeattorneygeneral.”R.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a);seealsoGrazianov.RhodeIslandStateLotteryCommission,810A.2d215(R.I.2002).Here,pursuanttoR.I.Gen.Laws§42-46-8(a),and the standard established in Graziano,thisDepartmentfoundthattheComplainantwas not an“aggrieved” party and therefore had nostanding to bring his complaint. SeeCurt-Hoardv.WoonsocketSchoolBoard,OM14-20;Ayottev.RhodeIslandCommissionontheDeafandHardofHearing,OM17-12.Assuch,wefoundnoOMAviolation.SincetheComplainantwasinpossessionoftherequesteddocuments,weneedonlyexaminewhether thealleged failure toprovide suchdocumentsrepresentedawillfulandknowing,orrecklessviolation.Werespondedin the negative. Issued July 12, 2017.

OPEN MEETINGS ACTADVISORY OPINIONS – 2017ADV OM 17-01 In Re: Office of the Child Advocate Death Review Panel The Rhode Island Child Advocate sought an OMA advisory opinion

concerningwhethertheDeathReviewPanel(“DRP”)isa“publicbody”subjecttotheOMA.BasedonSolas v. Emergency Hiring Council,774A.2d 820 (R.I. 2001) and Pontarelli v. Rhode Island Board Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, No. 2015-332-Appeal (PC 15-928),2016WL7403942(R.I.Supreme,December21,2016),welookedtotheDRP’sscopeofauthority,frequencyofmeetings,andcompositionofmembership. The evidence demonstrated, inter alia, that theDRPconsistsofavaryingsetofmemberswhoconveneonlywhenafatalityornearfatalityofachildoccursandthatthemembershipoftheDRPisnotdefinedandworkvoluntarily.Additionally,theDRPdoesnotimplementpolicy or legislative changes but instead makes recommendations to support prospective changes. These recommendations are published in a reportthatismadepublicbystatutewithinthirtydaysofitscompletion.Assuch,basedonthespecificevidencepresented,wefoundthat theDRPwas“an informal, strictly advisory committee.”Pontarelli, 2016WL7403942at*6.Therefore,weopinedthattheDRPisnota“publicbody”undertheOMA.Issued February 28, 2017.

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CHAPTER 46OPEN MEETINGS42-46-1. Public policy. — It is essential to themaintenance of a democratic

societythatpublicbusinessbeperformedinanopenandpublicmannerand that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance ofpublic officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into themakingofpublicpolicy.

42-46-2. Definitions. — As used in this chapter:

(1) “Meeting”means the conveningof a public body to discuss and/oractuponamatteroverwhichthepublicbodyhassupervision,control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.As used herein, the term“meeting”expresslyinclude,withoutlimitingthegeneralityoftheforegoing,so-called“workshop,”“working,”or“work”sessions.

(2) “Opencall”meansapublicannouncementbythechairpersonofthecommitteethatthemeetingisgoingtobeheldinexecutivesessionandthechairpersonmustindicatewhichexceptionof§42-46-5isbeing involved.

(3) “Public body” means any department, agency, commission,committee,board,council,bureau,orauthorityoranysubdivisionthereofofstateormunicipalgovernmentoranylibrarythatfundedatleasttwenty-fivepercent(25%)ofitsoperationalbudgetinthepriorbudgetyearwithpublicfunds,andshallincludeallauthoritiesdefinedin§42-35-1(b).Forpurposesofthissection,anypoliticalparty,organization,orunitthereofmeetingorconveningisnotandshouldnot be considered tobe apublic body;provided,howeverthat no such meeting shall be used to circumvent the requirements ofthischapter.

(4) “Quorum,” unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means asimplemajorityofthemembershipofapublicbody.

(5) “Prevailing plaintiff’ include those persons and entities deemed“prevailingparties”pursuantto42U.S.C.§1988.

(6)“Open forum”means thedesignatedportionofanopenmeeting,ifany,onaproperlypostednoticereservedforcitizenstoaddresscommentstoapublicbodyrelatingtomattersaffectingthepublicbusiness.

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42-46-3. Open meetings.—Everymeetingofallpublicbodiesshallbeopentothe public unless closed pursuant to §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5.

42-46-4. Closed meetings.

(a) Byopencall,apublicbodymayholdameetingclosedtothepublicuponanaffirmativevoteofthemajorityofitsmembers.Ameetingclosed to the public shall be limited to matters allowed to be exemptedfromdiscussionatopenmeetingsby§42-46-5.Thevoteofeachmemberonthequestionofholdingameetingclosedtothepublicandthereasonforholdingaclosedmeeting,byacitationtoasubdivisionof§42-46-5(a),andastatementspecifyingthenatureofthebusinesstobediscussed,shallberecordedandenteredintotheminutesofthemeeting.Nopublicbodyshalldiscussinclosedsessionanypublicmatterwhichdoesnotfallwithinthecitationsto§42-46-5(a)referredtobythepublicbodyinvotingtoclosethemeeting,evenifthesediscussionscouldotherwisebeclosedtothepublic under this chapter.

(b) All votes taken in closed sessions shall be disclosed once the session isreopened;provided,however,avotetakeninaclosedsessionneednotbedisclosedfortheperiodoftimeduringwhichitsdisclosurewould jeopardize any strategy negotiation or investigationundertaken pursuant to discussions conducted under § 42-46-5(a).

42-46-5. Purposes for which meeting may be closed — Use of electronic communications — Judicial proceedings — Disruptive conduct.

(a) A public body may hold a meeting closed to the public pursuant to § 42-46-4foroneormoreofthefollowingpurposes:

(1) Anydiscussionsofthejobperformance,character,orphysicalor mental health of a person or persons provided that suchpersonorpersonsaffectedshallhavebeennotifiedinadvancein writing and advised that they may require that the discussion be held at an open meeting.

Failure to provide such notification shall render any actiontaken against the person or persons affected null and void.Beforegoingintoaclosedmeetingpursuanttothissubsection,thepublicbodyshall state for therecord thatanypersons tobediscussedhavebeensonotifiedandthisstatementshallbenotedintheminutesofthemeeting.

(2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, orwork sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation.

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(3) Discussionregardingthematterofsecurity includingbutnotlimitedtothedeploymentofsecuritypersonnelordevices.

(4) Any investigative proceedings regarding allegations ofmisconduct,eithercivilorcriminal.

(5) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or leaseofrealpropertyforpublicpurposes,orofthedispositionofpubliclyheldpropertywhereinadvancedpublicinformationwouldbedetrimentaltotheinterestofthepublic.

(6) Any discussions related to or concerning a prospective business orindustrylocatinginthestateofRhodeIslandwhenanopenmeetingwouldhaveadetrimentaleffectontheinterestofthepublic.

(7) Amatter related to the question of the investment of publicfundswhere the premature disclosurewould adversely affectthepublic interest.Publicfundsshall includeanyinvestmentplanormatterrelatedthereto,includingbutnotlimitedtostatelotteryplansfornewpromotions.

(8) Anyexecutivesessionsofalocalschoolcommitteeexclusivelyforthepurposes(i)ofconductingstudentdisciplinaryhearingsor (ii) of reviewing othermatterswhich relate to the privacyof students and their records, including all hearings of thevariousjuvenilehearingboardsofanymunicipality;provided,however,thatanyaffectedstudentshallhavebeennotifiedinadvance in writing and advised that he or she may require that the discussion be held in an open meeting.

Failure to provide such notification shall render any actiontaken against the student or students affectednull and void.Beforegoingintoaclosedmeetingpursuanttothissubsection,thepublicbodyshallstatefortherecordthatanystudentstobediscussedhavebeensonotifiedandthisstatementshallbenotedintheminutesofthemeeting.

(9) Anyhearingson,ordiscussionsof,agrievancefiledpursuanttoa collective bargaining agreement.

(10) Anydiscussionofthepersonalfinancesofaprospectivedonorto a library.

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(b) No meeting of members of a public body or use of electroniccommunication, including telephonic communication andtelephoneconferencing, shall beused to circumvent the spiritorrequirements of this chapter; provided, however, thesemeetingsand discussions are not prohibited.

(1) Provided, further however, that discussions of a publicbody via electronic communication, including telephoniccommunicationandtelephoneconferencing,shallbepermittedonly to schedule a meeting.

(2) Provided,furtherhowever,thatamemberofapublicbodymayparticipate by use of electronic communication or telephonecommunicationwhileonactiveduty in thearmedservicesofthe United States.

(3) Provided,furtherhowever,thatamemberofthatpublicbody,whohasadisabilityasdefinedinchapter87oftitle42and:

(i) cannotattendmeetingsofthatpublicbodysolelybyreasonofhisorherdisability;and

(ii) cannot otherwise participate in the meeting without the use ofelectroniccommunicationortelephonecommunicationas reasonable accommodation, may participate by use ofelectronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the process below.

(4) The governor’s commission on disabilities is authorized anddirected to:

(i) establish rulesand regulations fordeterminingwhetheramemberofapublicbodyisnototherwiseabletoparticipateinmeetingsofthatpublicbodywithouttheuseofelectroniccommunication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodationduetothatmember’sdisability;

(ii) grant a waiver that allows a member to participate by electronic communication or telephone communication only if the member’s disability would prevent him/herfrom being physically present at the meeting location,andtheuseofsuchcommunicationistheonlyreasonableaccommodation;and

(iii)anywaiverdecisionsshallbeamatterofpublicrecord.

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(c) Thischaptershallnotapplytoproceedingsofthejudicialbranchofstate government or probate court or municipal court proceedings in any city or town.

(d) This chapter shall not prohibit the removal of any person whowillfullydisruptsameeting to theextent thatorderly conductofthe meeting is seriously compromised.

42-46-6. Notice. (a) Allpublicbodiesshallgivewrittennoticeoftheirregularlyscheduled

meetingsatthebeginningofeachcalendaryear.Thenoticeshallinclude thedates, times, andplacesof themeetingsand shallbeprovidedtomembersofthepublicuponrequestandtothesecretaryofstateatthebeginningofeachcalendaryearinaccordancewithsubsection(f).

(b) Publicbodiesshallgivesupplementalwrittenpublicnoticeofanymeeting within a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours before thedate.Thisnoticeshallincludethedatethenoticewasposted,thedate,timeandplaceofthemeeting,andastatementspecifyingthenatureofthebusinesstobediscussed.Copiesofthenoticeshallbemaintainedbythepublicbodyforaminimumofoneyear.Nothingcontainedhereinshallpreventapublicbody,otherthanaschoolcommittee,fromaddingadditionalitemstotheagendabymajorityvoteofthemembers.Schoolcommitteesmay,however,additemsfor informationalpurposesonly,pursuanttoarequest,submittedinwriting,byamemberofthepublicduringthepubliccommentsessionoftheschoolcommittee’smeetings.Saidinformationalitemsmay not be voted upon unless they have been posted in accordance withtheprovisionsofthissection.Suchadditionalitemsshallbefor informationalpurposesonly andmaynot be votedon exceptwherenecessarytoaddressanunexpectedoccurrencethatrequiresimmediateactiontoprotectthepublicortoreferthemattertoanappropriatecommitteeortoanotherbodyorofficial.

(c) Writtenpublicnoticeshallinclude,butneednotbelimitedtopostingacopyofthenoticeattheprincipalofficeofthepublicbodyholdingthemeeting,orifnoprincipalofficeexists,atthebuildinginwhichthemeetingistobeheld,andinatleastoneotherprominentplacewithin the governmental unit, and electronic filing of the noticewith the secretary of state pursuant to subsection (f); however,nothingcontainedhereinshallpreventapublicbodyfromholdinganemergencymeeting,uponanaffirmativevoteofthemajorityofthemembersofthebodywhenthemeetingisdeemednecessarytoaddressanunexpectedoccurrencethatrequiresimmediateaction

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toprotectthepublic.Ifanemergencymeetingiscalled,ameetingnotice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and shall be electronicallyfiledwiththesecretaryofstatepursuanttosubsection(e)and,uponmeeting,thepublicbodyshallstatefortherecordandminuteswhythemattermustbeaddressedinlessthanforty-eight(48) hours and only discuss the issue or issues which created the need for an emergency meeting. Nothing contained herein shallbeusedinthecircumventionofthespiritandrequirementsofthischapter.

(d) Nothingwithinthischaptershallprohibitanypublicbody,orthemembers thereof, from responding to comments initiated by amemberofthepublicduringaproperlynoticedopenforumevenifthesubjectmatterofacitizen’scommentsordiscussionswerenotpreviouslyposted,providedsuchmattersshallbeforinformationalpurposes only andmay not be voted on except where necessaryto address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediateactiontoprotectthepublicortoreferthemattertoanappropriatecommitteeortoanotherbodyorofficial.Nothingcontainedinthischapterrequiresanypublicbodytoholdanopenforumsession,toentertain or respond to any topic nor does it prohibit any public body fromlimitingcommentonanytopicatsuchanopenforumsession.Nopublic body, or themembers thereof,mayuse this section tocircumventthespiritorrequirementsofthischapter.

(e) A school committee may add agenda items not appearing in the published notice required by this section under the followingconditions:

(1) Therevisedagendaiselectronicallyfiledwiththesecretaryofstate pursuant to subsection (f), and is posted on the schooldistrict’s website and the two (2) public locations required by this section at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of themeeting;

(2) The new agenda items were unexpected and could not havebeenaddedintimefornewspaperpublication;

(3) Uponmeeting,thepublicbodystatesfortherecordandminuteswhy theagenda itemscouldnothavebeenadded in time fornewspaperpublicationandneedtobeaddressedatthemeeting;

(4) A formal process is available to provide timely notice of therevised agenda to anypersonwhohas requested thatnotice,and the school district has taken reasonable steps to make the publicawareofthisprocess;and

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(5) The published notice shall include a statement that any changes in the agenda will be posted on the school district’s web site and the two (2) public locations required by this section and will beelectronicallyfiledwiththesecretaryofstateatleastforty-eight(48)hoursinadvanceofthemeeting.

(f) Allnoticesrequiredbythissectiontobefiledwiththesecretaryofstateshallbeelectronicallytransmittedtothesecretaryofstateinaccordance with rules and regulations which shall be promulgated by the secretary of state. This requirement of the electronictransmissionandfilingofnoticeswiththesecretaryofstateshalltakeeffectone(1)yearafterthissubsectiontakeseffect.

(g) If a public body fails to transmit notices in accordancewith thissection, thenanyaggrievedpersonmayfileacomplaintwith theattorney general in accordance with § 42-46-8.

42-46-7. Minutes.

(a)Allpublicbodiesshallkeepwrittenminutesofalltheirmeetings.Theminutesshallinclude,butneednotbelimitedto:

(1) Thedate,time,andplaceofthemeeting;

(2) Themembersofthepublicbodyrecordedaseitherpresentorabsent;

(3) Arecordbyindividualmembersofanyvotetaken;and

(4) Any other information relevant to the business of the publicbodythatanymemberofthepublicbodyrequestsbeincludedorreflectedintheminutes.

(b)(1)Arecordofallvotestakenatallmeetingsofpublicbodies,listinghoweachmembervotedoneachissue,shallbeapublicrecordandshallbeavailable,tothepublicattheofficeofthepublicbody,withintwo(2)weeksofthedateofthevote.Theminutesshallbepublicrecordsandunofficialminutesshallbeavailable,tothepublicattheofficeofthepublicbody,withinthirtyfive(35) days of the meeting or at the next regularly scheduledmeeting, whichever is earlier, except where the disclosurewould be inconsistent with §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 or where thepublicbodybymajorityvoteextendsthetimeperiodforthefilingoftheminutesandpubliclystatesthereason.

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(2)Inadditiontotheprovisionsofsubdivision(b)(1),allvolunteerfirecompanies,associations,firedistrictcompanies,oranyotherorganizationcurrentlyengagedinthemissionofextinguishingfires and preventing fire hazards, whether it is incorporatedornot,andwhether it isapaiddepartmentornot,shallpostunofficial minutes of their meetings within twenty-one (21)daysofthemeeting,butnotlaterthanseven(7)dayspriortothenextregularlyscheduledmeeting,whicheverisearlier,onthesecretaryofstate’swebsite.

(c) Theminutesofaclosedsessionshallbemadeavailableatthenextregularlyscheduledmeetingunlessthemajorityofthebodyvotesto keep the minutes closed pursuant to §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5.

(d) All public bodies within the executive branch of the stategovernmentandallstatepublicandquasi-publicboards,agenciesandcorporations,andthosepublicbodiessetforthinsubdivision(b)(2),shallkeepofficialand/orapprovedminutesofallmeetingsofthebodyandshallfileacopyoftheminutesofallopenmeetingswiththesecretaryofstateforinspectionbythepublicwithinthirty-five(35)daysofthemeeting;providedthatthissubsectionshallnotapply to public bodies whose responsibilities are solely advisory in nature.

(e) Allminutesandunofficialminutes requiredby this section tobefiledwiththesecretaryofstateshallbeelectronicallytransmittedto thesecretaryofstate inaccordancewithrulesandregulationswhich shall bepromulgatedby the secretaryof state. If apublicbodyfailstotransmitminutesorunofficialminutesinaccordancewiththissubsection,thenanyaggrievedpersonmayfileacomplaintwith the attorney general in accordance with §42-46-8.

42-46-8. Remedies available to aggrieved persons or entities.

(a)Any citizen or entity of the statewho is aggrieved as a result ofviolations of the provisions of this chaptermay file a complaintwith the attorney general. The attorney general shall investigate the complaint and if the attorney general determines that theallegationsof the complaint aremeritoriousheor shemayfile acomplaintonbehalfofthecomplainantinthesuperiorcourtagainstthe public body.

(b)Nocomplaintmaybefiledbytheattorneygeneralafteronehundredeighty(180)daysfromthedateofpublicapprovaloftheminutesof themeetingatwhich theallegedviolationoccurred,or, in the

43

case of an unannounced or improperly closedmeeting, after onehundredeighty(180)daysfromthepublicactionofapublicbodyrevealingtheallegedviolation,whicheverisgreater.

(c) Nothing within this section shall prohibit any individual fromretainingprivate counsel for thepurposeoffilinga complaint inthesuperiorcourtwithinthetimespecifiedbythissectionagainstthepublicbodywhichhasallegedlyviolatedtheprovisionsofthischapter; provided,however, that if the individualhasfirstfiled acomplaintwiththeattorneygeneralpursuanttothissection,andthe attorney general declines to take legal action, the individualmayfilesuitinsuperiorcourtwithinninety(90)daysoftheattorneygeneral’s closing of the complaint or within one hundred eighty(180)daysoftheallegedviolation,whicheveroccurslater.

(d)The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to aprevailingplaintiff,otherthantheattorneygeneral,exceptwherespecialcircumstanceswouldrendersuchanawardunjust.

Thecourtmayissueinjunctivereliefanddeclarenullandvoidanyactions of a public body found to be in violation of this chapter.In addition, the court may impose a civil fine not exceedingfive thousanddollars ($5,000) against a public bodyor anyof itsmembersfoundtohavecommittedawillfulorknowingviolationofthis chapter.

(e)Nothingwithinthissectionshallprohibittheattorneygeneralfrominitiatingacomplaintonbehalfofthepublicinterest.

(f) Actionsbroughtunderthischaptermaybeadvancedonthecalendaruponmotionofthepetitioner.

(g)Theattorneygeneralshallconsiderallcomplaintsfiledunderthischaptertohavealsobeenfiledunder§38-2-8(b)ifapplicable.

42-46-9. Other applicable law.— The provisions of this chapter shall be inadditiontoanyandallotherconditionsorprovisionsofapplicablelawandarenottobeconstruedtobeinamendmentoforinrepealofanyother applicable provision of law, except § 16-2-29, which has beenexpresslyrepealed.

42-46-10. Severability. —Ifanyprovisionofthischapter,ortheapplicationofthischaptertoanyparticularmeetingortypeofmeeting,isheldinvalidor unconstitutional, the decision shall not affect the validity of theremainingprovisionsortheotherapplicationsofthischapter.

44

42-46-11. Reported violations. — Every year the attorney gen¬eral shall prepare areportsummarizingthecomplaintsreceivedpursuanttothischapter,which shall be submitted to the legislature and which shall include informationastohowmanycomplaintswerefoundtobemeritoriousand the action taken by the attorney general in response to those complaints.

42-46-12. Notice of citizen’s rights under this chapter. — The attorney general shall prepare a notice providing concise information explaining therequirementsofthischapterandadvisingcitizensoftheirrighttofilecomplaintsforviolationsofthischapter.Thenoticeshallbepostedinaprominent location in each city and town hall in the state.

42-46-13. Accessibility for persons with disabilities.

(a) Allpublicbodies,tocomplywiththenondiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityrequirementsofR.I.Const.,Art. I,§2andapplicablefederalandstatenondiscriminationlaws(29U.S.C.§794,chapter87ofthistitle,andchapter24oftitle11),shalldevelopatransitionplansettingforththestepsnecessarytoensurethatallopenmeetingsofsaid public bodies are accessible to persons with disabilities.

(b) Thestatebuildingcodestandardscommitteeshall,bySeptember1,1989adoptanaccessibilityofmeetingsforpersonswithdisabilitiesstandard that includes provisions ensuring that the meeting location is accessible to and usable by all persons with disabilities.

(c) Thissectiondoesnotrequirethepublicbodytomakeeachof itsexistingfacilitiesaccessibletoandusablebypersonswithdisabilitiesso long as all meetings required to be open to the public pursuant to chapter46ofthistitleareheldinaccessiblefacilitiesbythedatesspecifiedinsubsection(e).

(d) Thepublicbodymaycomplywiththerequirementsofthissectionthrough such means as reassignment of meetings to accessiblefacilities, alteration of existing facilities, or construction of newfacilities.Thepublicbodyisnotrequiredtomakestructuralchangesinexistingfacilitieswhereothermethodsareeffectiveinachievingcompliance with this section.

(e) The public body shall comply with the obligations established under thissectionbyJuly1,1990,exceptthatwherestructuralchangesinfacilitiesarenecessary inorder tocomplywith this section, suchchangesshallbemadebyDecember30,1991,butinanyeventasexpeditiouslyaspossibleunlessanextensionisgrantedbythestatebuildingcommissionerforgoodcause.

45

(f) Each municipal government and school district shall, with theassistanceofthestatebuildingcommission,completeatransitionplancoveringthelocationofmeetingsforallpublicbodiesundertheirjurisdiction.Eachchiefexecutiveofeachcityortownandthesuperintendentofschoolswillsubmittheir transitionplantothegovernor’scommissionondisabilitiesforreviewandapproval.Thegovernor’scommissionondisabilitieswithassistancefromthestatebuildingcommissionshallapproveormodify,withtheconcurrenceofthemunicipalgovernmentorschooldistrict,thetransitionplans.

(g) Theprovisionsof§§45-13-7—45-13-10,inclusive,shallnotapplyto this section.

42-46-14. Burden of proof. — In all actions brought under this chapter, theburden shall be on the public body to demonstrate that the meeting in disputewasproperlyclosedpursuantto,orotherwiseexemptfromthetermsofthischapter.

ATT

ORNEY GENERAL

ST

AT

E OF RHODE IS

LA

ND

SECTION III

Procedures & Forms

46

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

47

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

43

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FORM

UNDER THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT Date ____________ Request Number ____________

Name (optional) ________________________________________________________________

Address (optional) ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Telephone (optional) ____________________________________________________________

Requested Records: _____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

OFFICE USE ONLY Request taken by: ______________ Request Number __________ Date: _____________ Time: __________ Records to be available on: ____________ Mail _________ Pick Up __________ Records provided: __________ Costs: __________ copies __________ search and retrieval

Forward this Document to the Open Government Unit

Department of Attorney General - Public Records Request Receipt If you desire to pick up the records, they will be available on _______________ at the front desk. If, after review of your request, the Department determines that the requested records are exempt from disclosure for a reason set forth in the Access to Public Records Act, the Department reserves its right to claim such exemption. Note: If you chose to pick up the records, but did not include identifying information on this form (name, etc.), please inform the receptionist at the front desk of the date you made the request, records requested and request number. Thank you.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

48

RULES AND REGULATIONSRegarding Training under the Access to Public Records Act

1. TheChiefAdministrativeOfficer,asdefinedbytheAccesstoPublicRecordsAct,mustcertifyannually,asprovidedinR.I.Gen.Laws§38-2-3.16(“compliancebyagenciesandpublicbodies”),thatpersonswhohavetheauthoritytograntordenyAccesstoPublicRecordsActrequestshavereceivedtrainingfortheupcomingcalendaryear.Individualsmustbecertifiedeachcalendaryear.

2. Anypersonwhohasnot received trainingprior to thebeginningof thecalendaryear,butwhoduringthecalendaryearbecomesauthorizedtograntordenyAccesstoPublicRecordsActrequests,shallreceivetrainingasrequiredundertheAccesstoPublicRecordsActassoonaspracticable,butnotlessthanone(1)monthafterbeingauthorizedtograntordenyAccesstoPublicRecordsActrequests.SuchtimemaybeextendedatthediscretionoftheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneralfor“goodcause.”TheChiefAdministrativeOfficermustcertifytotheAttorneyGeneralthattraining has been received when training has been completed.

3. AuthorizedtrainingmustbeconductedbytheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral.TheDepartment ofAttorneyGeneralwill offer various training programs throughouteach calendar year and such training programs will be conducted at various locations throughout the State. Public bodies or governmental entities wishing to schedule trainingsessionsmaycontacttheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral.PublicentitieswishingtoscheduleAccesstoPublicRecordsActtrainingshouldmakeeveryefforttoscheduletrainingsessionstoaslargeagroupaspracticable.TheDepartmentofAttorney General reserves the sole discretion to determine whether and when to schedule a training session.

4. ForpurposesoftheseRulesandRegulationstherequirementfortrainingmaybesatisfiedbyattendinganAttorneyGeneraltraininginpersonorbyviewingarecentvideoofanAccesstoPublicRecordsActpresentationgivenbytheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral.AnypersonsatisfyingtheAccesstoPublicRecordsActtrainingrequirementmustcertifytotheChiefAdministrativeOfficerthatheorsheviewedtheentireAccesstoPublicRecordsActpresentation,orattendedthelivetrainingprogram, and such certification shall be forwarded by the Chief AdministrativeOfficertotheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral.

5. Certificationmaybee-mailedtoagsummit@riag.ri.gov,ormailedtotheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneral,Attn:PublicRecordsUnit,150SouthMainStreet,Providence,RhodeIsland02903.CertificationformsareavailableontheDepartmentofAttorneyGeneralWebsite.

49

6. The Attorney General may annually prepare and post a list of all certificationsreceivedbytheofficebypublicbodies.

7. The Department of Attorney General may assess a reasonable charge for thecertification requiredbyR.I.Gen. Laws§38-2-3.16, is todefray the costof suchtraining and related materials.

50

46

State of Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT SECTION 38-2-3.16 COMPLIANCE BY AGENCIES AND PUBLIC BODIES

SECTION A – TO BE COMPLETED BY CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

This certifies that _______________________________ of ________________________________, has

completed the Access to Public Records training on the _____ day of _______________, 20____, and is in

compliance with § 38-2-3.16.

The above has completed training by means of: _____ Live Presentation _____ Video Presentation

_______________________________ ___________________________ Chief Administrator Department/Entity _______________________________ Dated

SECTION B – TO BE COMPLETED BY CERTIFIED PERSONNEL I certify that I have viewed the video presentation and/or a live presentation and am in compliance with § 38-

2-3.16 of the Access to Public Records Act. In addition, I certify that the information I have provided on this

statement is true and correct.

Date of Training: _____________________ Signed: _________________________

Email Address: ____________________________________ [Email address will be used only to provide notice of future Open Government seminars]

**Please List ANY and ALL Entities for which you are certifying compliance. For instance, the Clerk’s

Office, the Police Department, the School Department, the entire City/Town/Department.

___________________________________ _________________________________

___________________________________ _________________________________

Upon completion please return to this office by either emailing to opengovernment@riag.ri.gov; facsimile 401-222-3016 or mail to Department of Attorney General, Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

5147

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

OPEN MEETINGS ACT CHECKLIST OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT

NOTICE REQUIREMENTS Have you posted: annual notice (beginning of each calendar year only) notice include:

• the date(s), time(s), and location(s) of the meetings. notice posted:

• electronically with the Secretary of State; and • provided to a member of the public upon request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(a).

supplemental notice (minimum 48 hours before the date of the scheduled meeting)

notice include:

• the date notice was posted; • the date(s), time(s), and location(s) of the meetings; and • a statement specifying the nature of the business for each matter to be discussed.

notice posted:

• at the principal office of the public body holding the meeting, or if no principal office exists, at the building where the meeting is to be held;

• in at least one other prominent location within the governmental unit; and • electronically with the Secretary of State. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(b) & (c).

CONVENING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Does the open call contain for each matter to be discussed in executive session:

vote by a majority of the members to convene in executive session;

record in the open session minutes the vote of each member on the question of holding a meeting closed to the public;

state in the open call and record in the open session minutes the specific subsection of R.I. Gen.

Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1)-(10) upon which each executive session discussion has been convened; and

state in the open call and record in the open session minutes a statement specifying the nature of the business for each matter to be discussed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4(a).

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

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Does the executive session concern:

discussion of the job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a person(s), provided:

person(s) affected shall be notified in advance in writing;

person(s) advised they may require discussion held in open session; and

during open call, state in open session and record in open session minutes that person(s) have been notified. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1).

sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2).

discussion regarding the matter of security. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(3).

any investigative proceedings regarding allegations of civil or criminal misconduct. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(4).

any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for public

purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the public interest. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(5).

any discussions related to or concerning a prospective business or industry locating in Rhode Island

when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the interest of the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(6).

a matter related to the question of the investment of public funds, which includes any investment

plan or matter related thereto, where the premature disclosure would adversely affect the public interest. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(7).

school committee sessions to conduct student disciplinary hearings or to review other matters that

relate to the privacy of students and their records, provided in either case:

any affected student(s) shall be notified in advance in writing;

student(s) advised they may require discussion held in open session; and

during open call, state in open session and record in open session minutes that student(s) have been notified. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(8).

any hearings on, or discussions of, a grievance filed pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(9).

any discussion of the personal finances of a prospective donor to a library. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(10).

MINUTES

Open and closed session minutes must be maintained and contain:

the date, time, and place of the meeting;

the members of the public body recorded as either present or absent;

a record by individual member of any vote taken; and

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any other information relevant to the business of the public body that a member of the public body requests included. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(a).

MAKING MINUTES AVAILABLE

For all public bodies:

Unofficial (unapproved) open and closed session minutes must be available at the principal office of the public body within thirty-five (35) days of the meeting, or at the next regularly scheduled meeting, whichever is earlier. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b).

EXCEPTIONS

• when a closed session meeting has been properly convened and a majority of the members vote to seal the minutes, or

• where a majority of the members vote to extend the time period for filing minutes and publicly state the reason for the extension. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b).

For all volunteer fire companies, associations, fire district companies, or any other organization currently engaged in extinguishing fires and preventing fire hazards:

must post unofficial minutes on the Secretary of State’s website within 21 days of the meeting, but

not later than 7 days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, whichever is earlier. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b)(2).

For all State Executive branch public bodies; all State and quasi-public boards, agencies, and corporations; and all volunteer fire companies, associations, fire district companies, or any other organization currently engaged in extinguishing fires and preventing fire hazards:

must maintain official/approved minutes and electronically file a copy of such minutes with the

Secretary of State within 35 days of the meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(d).

EXCEPTION

• not applicable to public bodies whose responsibilities are advisory in nature. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(d).

DISCLOSING VOTES

all votes listing how each member voted on each issue shall be available at the office of the public body within two (2) weeks of the vote, R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b); and

if a vote is cast during executive session, the vote must be disclosed once the open session is reopened. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4(b).

EXCEPTION

• a vote taken in executive session need not be disclosed for the period of time during which its disclosure would jeopardize any strategy, negotiation or investigation undertaken pursuant to a properly closed meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4(b).

54

50

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT CHECKLIST OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT

PROCEDURES All public bodies must establish written procedures regarding access to public records EXCEPTIONS

• No written request for public information available pursuant to Administrative Procedures Act, and

• No written request for documents prepared for or readily available to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

Procedures must include:

Identification of a designated public records officer or unit;

How to make a public records request; and

Where to make a public records request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

EXCEPTION

• Written request for records cannot be on a form established by a public body if the request is readily identifiable as a request for public records, R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

Procedures must be posted on the public body’s website, if such a website is maintained, and be made otherwise readily available to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

CERTIFICATION

No later than every January 1, every public body and Chief Administrative Officer must certify (using Attorney General forms) that all officers and employees who have the authority to grant or deny persons or entities access to records have been provided orientation and training during the prior year. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3.16.

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS Requested documents are presumed to be public records and must be disclosed, unless:

the document (in whole or in part) is exempt pursuant to one or more exemption, R.I. Gen.

Laws § 38-2-2(A)-(AA); or

the privacy interest in a document (in whole or in part) outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

If a document is exempt, any reasonable segregable portion shall be available after the deletion or redaction of the information that is the basis of the exclusion. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(b).

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

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PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER F. KILMARTIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL

150 South Main Street - Providence RI 02903

42

 

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

OPEN GOVERNMENT UNIT The Department of Attorney General adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records. 1. To reach us by telephone please call (401) 274-4400 and ask to be connected to the Open

Government Unit. Requests for records must be mailed to the Open Government Unit, which is the Unit within the Department of Attorney General designated to handle these matters, except as provided in paragraph 4. The mailing address is: Department of Attorney General, ATTN: Open Government Unit, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Requests may also be hand delivered to the Department of Attorney General at the reception desk (150 South Main Street) and addressed to the Open Government Unit or requests may be emailed to aprarequest@riag.ri.gov.

2. The regular business hours of the Department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you come in after

regular business hours, please complete the Public Records Request Form at the front desk and it will be given to the Unit the following day.

3. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your

right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

4. In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner, unless you are seeking records available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public, we ask that you complete the Public Records Request Form located at the front desk, or on our website, www.riag.ri.gov or otherwise submit your request in writing. If you are seeking documents available pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public and do not wish to submit a written request, you must contact an attorney in the Open Government Unit to make your request.

5. You may also obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found at: http://www.riag.ri.gov (then proceed to the link entitled “Open Government”).

6. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file a review petition with the Attorney General. You may also file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

8. The Department of Attorney General is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.

55 51

If an entire document is exempt, must state in denial letter that no reasonable portion of the document contains segregable information. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(b).

RESPONDING TO REQUEST1 Upon receipt of a request, you must provide one of the following responses: Access

provide access to the requested documents within 10 business days of receipt of request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(e).

• Must provide document in any media capable of providing, R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(g);

and • Must provide copies electronically, by facsimile, or by mail pursuant to requester’s

choice, unless doing so would be unduly burdensome due to the volume of records requested or the costs incurred. Person requesting delivery responsible for costs, if any. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(k).

Deny

deny access to the requested documents within 10 business days of receipt of request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(a).

• In writing; • Provide specific reason(s) for denial; and • Identify procedure for appealing denial. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(a).

Extension

assert extension within 10 business days of receipt of request (for additional 20 business days).

• In writing; • Must be particularized to specific request; and • Must be able to demonstrate extension necessary due to voluminous nature of the request,

the number of requests pending, or the difficulty in searching for and retrieving or copying requested records. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(e).

COSTS

Any cost assessed must fall within one of the following categories:

Maximum $.15 per document copied on a common or legal size paper;

Maximum $15.00 per hour for search and retrieval, with no charge for the first hour;

• Multiple requests from any person/entity within 30 day time period shall be considered one request for purposes of determining no charge for the first hour.

No more than the reasonable actual cost for providing electronic records; 1 This section should not be used for requests seeking adult arrest logs, which require a law enforcement agency to provide a response within 48 hours after receipt of a request, unless a request is made on a weekend or a holiday, in which case the records shall be made available within 72 hours. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3.2.

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No more than the reasonable actual cost for retrieving records from storage, but only where the public body is assessed a retrieval fee; and

Any other cost provision specifically authorized by law.

For all costs, an estimate must be provided upon request; and a detailed itemization of the search and retrieval costs must be provided upon request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4.

NOTE:

This checklist is intended to assist public bodies and provide guidance concerning the Access to Public Records Act’s requirements. This checklist does not list all Access to Public Records Act requirements and is not intended to replace the Access to Public Records Act. Revised July 2015.