Inspection of Public Records; documents and records in the possession of private persons or entities; revise provisions

Better access to privately held public records

In Georgia, public records remain open for inspection and copying unless a law or court order exempts them. Requests must go to the agency responsible for the record or its designated records employee, called the custodian. Custodians must retrieve records that private people or businesses prepared, maintained, or received while doing work for an agency. They must also retrieve records the agency transferred to private holders for storage or future government use. Private holders must provide them when requested within the longer of the legal retention period or the agency agreement’s period. Custodians need not retrieve records held by another agency or public entity, and agencies must still follow recordkeeping rules. These rules took effect upon Governor approval or upon the act becoming law without approval.