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The Massachusetts Public Records Law treats computer
files
(no matter what format and including GIS data files), just like any
other public record. Thus, unless the files are subject to one of
the public records law exemption, they must be provided to the person
or organization making the request. The time period allowed for
in responding to such requests and the financial charges allowed in
providing copies of data files are the same as for other kinds of
public records. As with other public records requests, no
explanation of the intended use for GIS data needs to accompany the
request. For more information on the public records law, see the
links below.
- What
is a Public Record -
On this page for the Division of Public Records from the Secretary of
the Commonweatlh's web site you can find a document called "A Guide to
the Public Records Law" as well as some other related documents and
links.
- Overview of
Public Records Law as it
Pertains to GIS -
This presentation prepared by Neil MacGaffey at MassGIS provides
a short overview of the essential requirements
and provisions, including specific exemptions, of the public records
law as it pertains to GIS data;
many of the slides reference specific pages in the document mentioned
above "A Guide to the Public Records Law". (187 kb;
in PDF format - requires the free
Adobe Acrobat Reader software or plug-in)
- Letter
From
Public Records Custodian on GIS - In 1996, Mary E.
Schwind,
then Acting Supervisor of Public Records, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, wrote a letter to
Daniel M. Funk, City Solicitor for the City of Newton. In this
letter, Ms. Schwind responds to some specific questions concerning
interpretation of public records law as it pertains to GIS databases.
Those interested in this
issue
may also find it helpful to read the information on a Model Data Distribution Policy.
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