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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§2000aa–7 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter 21A— PRIVACY PROTECTION › Subchapter I— FIRST AMENDMENT PRIVACY PROTECTION › Part B— Remedies, Exceptions, and Definitions › § 2000aa–7

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines three key terms used in the chapter. Documentary materials are items that record information, like papers, photos, films, audio or video tapes, and electronic files, but not illegal items, things gained by crime, or things designed for or used to commit a crime. Work product materials are things made or kept to share with the public, including the creator’s impressions or opinions, and also exclude illegal or crime-related items. Any other governmental unit means the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions, and local or state government units.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2000aa–7

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)“Documentary materials”, as used in this chapter, means materials upon which information is recorded, and includes, but is not limited to, written or printed materials, photographs, motion picture films, negatives, video tapes, audio tapes, and other mechanically, magentically 11 So in original. Probably should be “magnetically”. or electronically recorded cards, tapes, or discs, but does not include contraband or the fruits of a crime or things otherwise criminally possessed, or property designed or intended for use, or which is or has been used as, the means of committing a criminal offense.
(b)“Work product materials”, as used in this chapter, means materials, other than contraband or the fruits of a crime or things otherwise criminally possessed, or property designed or intended for use, or which is or has been used, as the means of committing a criminal offense, and—
(1)in anticipation of communicating such materials to the public, are prepared, produced, authored, or created, whether by the person in possession of the materials or by any other person;
(2)are possessed for the purposes of communicating such materials to the public; and
(3)include mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, or theories of the person who prepared, produced, authored, or created such material.
(c)“Any other governmental unit”, as used in this chapter, includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, and any local government, unit of local government, or any unit of State government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1981, except that insofar as such provisions are applicable to a State or any governmental unit other than the United States, the section is effective one year from Oct. 13, 1980, see section 108 of Pub. L. 96–440, set out as a note under section 2000aa of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2000aa–7

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60