Public records.

Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires state and local agencies to make their records available for public inspection, except as provided. Existing law declares that public records are open to inspection during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, except as specified. Existing law requires each agency, upon a request for a copy of records, within 10 days from receipt of the request, to determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the agency and to promptly notify the person making the request of the determination and the reasons therefor. This bill would extend that 10-day deadline to 10 business days. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.