TO: Public Records Custodians
SUBJECT: Fees for Access and Copying of Electronic Public Records
EXPIRATION DATE: Until superseded
PURPOSE: This bulletin provides guidance to custodians on how to compute
the applicable fees for copying and accessing electronic records
BACKGROUND:
The Public Records Law clearly applies to the disclosure of electronic
records. The computer enhances government's ability to provide information
in various formats not available on paper. Additionally, the computer
enables the custodian to merge files or manipulate data in order to create
new records. The government is entitled to charge certain costs associated
with compliance with requests for data in magnetic media.
FINDINGS:
The term "public records" is broadly defined to include all
documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics,
made or received by any officer or employee of any municipality or agency
of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L.
c.4, § 7(26). Therefore, the Public Records Law clearly
applies to government records generated, received, or maintained electronically.
Public records, and any non-exempt, segregable portions thereof, are subject
to mandatory disclosure upon request and upon payment of a reasonable
fee. Accordingly, a custodian may withhold exempt information within a
record but must disclose any public portions. A custodian may recover
costs incurred when complying with public records requests, including
costs associated with searching for the record and segregating any exempt
information. Segregation may be accomplished by blocking out exempt information
on a copy of the record, or through electronic segregation prior to disclosure.
ACTIONS:
1. Unless otherwise established by statute, a records custodian may charge
no more than the following fees for copies of public records: twenty cents
($.20) a page for photocopies, twenty-five cents ($.25) for copies maintained
on microfilm or microfiche, fifty cents ($.50) a page for computer printout
copies and for copies of records not susceptible to ordinary means of
reproduction (such as oversized documents, audio tapes and computer tapes),
the actual cost incurred may be assessed. When the cost of complying with
a public records request is expected to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), the
records custodian shall provide the requester with a written, good faith
estimate of the costs involved.
2. The Public Records Access Regulations (Regulations) also allow a record
custodian to assess a fee for a search of computerized records based on
the actual cost incurred from the use of the computer. 950 C.M.R. 32.06(1)(e).
The only such "actual costs" which may be recovered are: the
cost of the energy consumed during use, the materials used, and the prorated
salary of the computer operator. Minimum fees may not be imposed for the
inspection, or copying, of a public record.
3. There is no basis in the Public Records Law or Regulations for recovering
the costs incurred in developing the database or entering information.
These costs are incurred by a custodian in the daily operations of the
office and are not the direct result of complying with a request for public
records. Therefore, such costs cannot be passed along to a requester.
4. A custodian has a duty to write a program to segregate exempt information
from non-exempt computerized information. See G.L. c.66, § 10 (custodial duty to segregate). Again, only the actual costs incurred
may be assessed for compliance.
5. In certain instances, the reprogramming necessary to comply with a
request in a specific format is tantamount to creatinga document, rather
than segregating an existing record. A record holder's duty to comply
with requests for information extends only to records that are in existence
and in his custody. There is no obligation to create a record in response
to a public records request. Since the newly created record is not within
the statutory definition of "public records," the Regulations
do not apply and the custodian may assess any reasonable fee for such
reprogramming to create a document.
6. Requests for on-line access to records or for a subscription service
to certain information constitute prospective requests. Since those records
are not yet in existence at the time of the request, they are also outside
the purview of the Regulations and the custodian may set the fee for such
access.
7. A custodian may be reimbursed only once for the cost of the programming
necessary to comply with a public records request. Once a program is written,
a custodian may not recover the cost of writing the program each time
that program is used. Rather, that program becomes part of the municipality's
files and the custodian may assess only the cost of reproducing the particular
record.
8. A custodian may require payment of the fee prior to complying with a public records request. See 950 C.M.R. 32.05(6) (requester is entitled to one copy of a public record or any desired portion of a public record upon payment of a reasonablefee).
Questions regarding custody or access to public records (including records maintained on a computer) should be directed to:
Public Records Division
1 Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108
Phone 617-727-2832
Fax 617-727-5914
Email pre@sec.state.ma.us
www.sec.state.ma.us/pre
Questions regarding this bulletin and maintenance and disposal of government records (including electronic records) should be directed to:
Records Management Unit
Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Phone 617-727-2816
Fax 617-288-8429
Email recman@sec.state.ma.us
www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu