FAQs
What is a public record?
Public records are records created by our state agencies. Public records come in many forms, including correspondence, calendars, photographs, videos, websites, databases, social media accounts, and more.
What is an APRA request?
APRA was designed to facilitate government transparency. An APRA request is a way to formally request open public records that are not readily available. APRA requests are submitted directly to the agency or department that created the document. Once you enter the APRA process, the agency is limited solely to documents you have requested and must follow procedures outlined in statute when seeking clarifications from you. The Office of the Attorney General enforces APRA, and the Department of State Public Records Administration oversees records retention.
APRA vs. FOIA
An APRA request is not the same as a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. An APRA request is only for Rhode Island state and municipal levels of government. FOIA requests are to access federal-level public records.
Processing an APRA request
The agency has 10 business days from the date they receive the request to respond, at which point they will either provide the records, request a 20-day extension, or inform you that they do not have the records you requested. In the process of requesting an extension, the agency may provide an itemized invoice of what the retrieval will cost.
- The agency may charge up to $15 per hour after the first hour to retrieve records or process the request. See Statute.
- The agency may charge $0.15 per page printed. See Statute.
- If you think there has been an APRA violation, please contact the Office of the Attorney General.
- NOTE: All state agencies must have APRA procedures in policy or regulations. See the Department of State’s APRA regulations.