Division of Occupational Licensure public records request

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when building your public records request:

Key tip

• Please provide a reasonable and specific description of the records sought. If applicable, please include relevant date ranges and any other information that may help our Records Access Officer (“RAO”) to identify the records that are being requested.

Additional tips

• Please be advised that most responses will be provided in electronic format.
• Please be advised that the first four hours of work performed to respond to a public records request will be performed at no cost. After that, the Division may charge up to $25 per hour. 
• The Division can only provide records that are within its custody.
• Your public records request, including an associated correspondence, will be considered a public record in its entirety.  As such, it will be made available to any member of the public upon request. 

Press inquiries

• Press inquiries not related to public records requests should be routed through the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation communications department at ocabr.communications@mass.gov.

Below please find a compilation of laws, regulations, and web sources related to public records.

Massachusetts laws and regulations

G.L. c. 4, § 7(26) Definition of public records and outlines exemptions that may apply to requested records.

G.L. c. 66, § 10 Describes the process for submitting and responding to public records requests

950 CMR 32 Public records access regulations, including information about the public records process, records access, fees, appeals, and other matters. 

Record retention schedules

MGL c. 66, § 8 Preservation of certain books, papers, and records; destruction of certain original instruments.  Law gives the timeline for keeping state, county, city, and town records

Massachusetts records retention schedules, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Searchable database of municipal and statewide records retention schedules, providing detailed guidance in the storage and disposal of records

Web resources

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division

A Guide to Massachusetts Public Records Law