California Public Records Act: agency response time

The law changes the California Public Records Act response clock from calendar days to business days, potentially giving agencies more time while requiring them to provide an estimated availability date for disclosable records.

What the law does ​

• Requires state and local agencies to determine within 10 business days whether requested records are disclosable and promptly notify the requester of the decision and reasons.
• Requires agencies that identify disclosable records to state the estimated date and time the records will be available.
• Allows an agency head or designee, in specified unusual circumstances, to extend the determination deadline by written notice for up to 14 business days.
• Retains defined unusual circumstances, including record searches, large requests, interagency consultation, data extraction, cyberattacks, and certain Governor-proclaimed emergencies.

Who it affects ​

• People and organizations requesting records from California state and local agencies.
• State and local agencies processing California Public Records Act requests.