The Los Angeles Personnel Department is committed to transparent and open government practices. The Personnel Department responds to requests for public records pursuant to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), Government Code sections 6250 et seq.
The California Government Code defines a public record as “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.” The CPRA provides exemptions that give the City discretion to withhold certain sorts of records from production in whole or in part. These include but are not limited to records containing personal identifying information (for example, medical information or, in most circumstances, a home address), records protected by an attorney-client privilege or deliberative-process privilege, and records where the public interest in withholding the records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosing them.
All information contained in a CPRA request, including a requester's information, is considered public record, and may be subject to public inspection, pursuant to Government Code section 6252(e). Requesters should bear this in mind when making a CPRA request to the City.
Government Code section 6253(c) gives City departments 10 calendar days to make a determination in response to a CPRA request. In certain circumstances, a department may extend its time to make that determination by an additional 14 calendar days. If a City department extends the time, the department will notify the requesting party in writing within the initial 10-day period of the reason(s) for the extension and the estimated date of determination.
After conducting a reasonable and diligent search City departments provide responsive records as soon as possible. Electronic records will be made available in pdf format. Other formats (e.g., EML and MBOX), if sought by the requester under California Government Code § 6253.9 (a)(1), may also be available depending on the technical capabilities of a particular department
To open a new public record request, click on the following Request Public Records button. You can also conduct a search of City Clerk's Council File Management System, which contains reports, ordinances, and other documents pending consideration or acted on by the City Council.
Anyone may initiate a request for public records.
Public Record requests from the Office of the City Administrative Officer may include a wide variety of documents and other materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by the department and are, at the time the request is filed, in the department's possession and control. The Public Records Act excludes certain categories of records from disclosure.
The California Public Records Act requires an Agency to provide a response to the public records request within 10 calendar days.
Documents and materials within the possession of the Office of the City Administrative Officer that are available in electronic format will be provided without charge, when feasible. Fees for paper copies are ten cents per page, unless the requested document has an established statutory fee. The cost of CDs or DVDs and audio tapes will vary depending on the specific request.