Title 38, Title 38 Records

Every person, other than the lawful custodian thereof, who shall have in his or her possession, or under his or her control, any such record, book, writing, letter, or document as is designated in § 38-1-1 and who shall, without just cause, refuse or neglect for the space of ten …

It shall be the duty of every city and town to provide fireproof receptacles for records and documents relating to the official business of the city or town where the records and documents may be kept free from injury from any cause. The receptacles shall be of suitable type and …

When not in use, the records and documents shall be kept in the fireproof rooms, vaults, or safes provided for them. Whoever unlawfully keeps in his or her possession any public record, or unlawfully removes the record from the room in which it is usually kept, or alters, defaces…

The elected or appointed state, county, or municipal officer or officers charged by law with the responsibility of maintaining the office having public records shall be the custodian thereof.

The public’s right to access to public records and the individual’s right to dignity and privacy are both recognized to be principles of the utmost importance in a free society. The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate public access to public records. It is also the intent of…

In all actions brought under this chapter, the burden shall be on the public body to demonstrate that the record in dispute can be properly withheld from public inspection under the terms of this chapter.

The right of the public to inspect public records created by this chapter shall be in addition to any other right to inspect records maintained by public bodies.

If any provision of this chapter is held unconstitutional, the decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter. If the application of this chapter to a particular record is held invalid, the decision shall not affect other applications of this chapter.

All records initially deemed to be public records which any person may inspect and/or copy under the provisions of this chapter, shall continue to be so deemed whether or not subsequent court action or investigations are held pertaining to the matters contained in the records.

Settlement agreements of any legal claims against a governmental entity shall be deemed public records.

Every year the attorney general shall prepare a report summarizing all the complaints received pursuant to this chapter, which shall be submitted to the legislature and which shall include information as to how many complaints were found to be meritorious and the action taken by …

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or state law, any investigatory records generated or obtained by the Rhode Island state police or the Rhode Island attorney general in conducting an investigation surrounding the funding of 38 Studios, LLC by the Rhode Island ec…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Agency” or “public body” means any executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, or administrative body of the state, or any political subdivision thereof; including, but not limited to: any department, division, agency, commission, board, office, bu…

(a) Except as provided in § 38-2-2(4), all records maintained or kept on file by any public body, whether or not those records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person or entity shall have the right to inspect and/or copy thos…

All records required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter shall not be replaced or supplemented with the product of a “real-time translation reporter”.

Not later than January 1, 2013, and annually thereafter, the chief administrator of each agency and each public body shall state in writing to the attorney general that all officers and employees who have the authority to grant or deny persons or entities access to records under …

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 38-2-3(e), the following information reflecting an initial arrest of an adult and charge or charges shall be made available within forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of a request unless a request is made on a weekend or holiday, in which …

(a) Subject to the provisions of § 38-2-3, a public body must allow copies to be made or provide copies of public records. The cost per copied page of written documents provided to the public shall not exceed fifteen cents ($.15) per page for documents copyable on common business…

Nothing in this chapter shall be: (1) Construed as preventing any public body from opening its records concerning the administration of the body to public inspection; (2) Construed as limiting the right of access as it existed prior to July 1, 1979, of an individual who is the su…

(a) Any denial of the right to inspect or copy records, in whole or in part provided for under this chapter shall be made to the person or entity requesting the right in writing giving the specific reasons for the denial within ten (10) business days of the request and indicating…

(a) Any person or entity denied the right to inspect a record of a public body may petition the chief administrative officer of that public body for a review of the determinations made by his or her subordinate. The chief administrative officer shall make a final determination wh…

(a) Jurisdiction to hear and determine civil actions brought under this chapter is hereby vested in the superior court. (b) The court may examine any record which is the subject of a suit in camera to determine whether the record or any part thereof may be withheld from public in…

This chapter shall be known as the “Public Records Administration Act.”

If any provision of this chapter or the application of this chapter to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Administrator” means the public records administrator who coordinates and manages the activities and responsibilities of the public records administration program. The administrator shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary of …

(a) The public records administration program shall be organized as deemed necessary by the secretary for the proper discharge of its duties and responsibilities under this chapter. All personnel, furnishings, equipment, finances, property, and contractual arrangements of the pub…

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the administrator to: (1) Establish and administer a public records management program, for public bodies which shall be primarily responsible for assisting state agencies and cities and towns with the care and management of public recor…

(a) If any department or agency of government, in the regular course of business or activity, has kept or recorded any public record or has caused any or all of the public records to be recorded, copied, or reproduced by a photographic, microfilm, micro-card, electronic or other …

(a) Each agency shall prepare and submit to the program, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the program, record control schedules for all public records in the custody of the agency. (b) Proposed schedules shall be sent to the offices of the attorney general and the …

It shall be the duty of each agency to: (1) Cooperate with the program in complying with the provisions of this chapter; (2) Establish and maintain active and continuous procedure for the economical and efficient management of public records, including, but not limited to, workin…

Every year the secretary shall prepare a report summarizing the compliance with the provisions of this chapter, which shall be submitted to the general assembly and which shall be published electronically on the department of state website.

The administrator is hereby empowered to bring an action in superior court for restraining orders and injunctive relief to restrain and enjoin violations or threatened violations of any provision of this chapter.