search
Stay connected:

Email IconFaceBook IconTwitter IconFlicker Icon Youtube Icon WPress 

  •  
Image: Left Navigation Top Border
Image: Left Navigation Bottom Border

  • Public Records Request

    The California High-Speed Rail Authority strongly believes in transparency and upholding the public's right to access public documents about the state's high-speed rail project.

    Californians have a right under the state Public Records Act and the California Constitution to access public information maintained by all state agencies, including the California High-Speed Rail Authority.  For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions about accessing public records maintained by the Authority.

     

    General Guidelines for Access to Public Records

    Public records maintained by the California High-Speed Rail Authority (hereinafter “Authority”) are available for inspection by members of the public pursuant to the following procedures:


    1.    Public records maintained by the Authority are available for inspection during the regular business hours of the Authority. The Authority is entitled to a reasonable period of time to locate the records if not readily accessible and to determine whether they must first be reviewed, and possibly redacted, in order to protect confidential or other exempt material from improper disclosure.

    2.    All requests should be sent to the attention of the Public Records Officer for the handling of Public Records Act requests. For further information you may contact the Authority at 916-324-1541 or records"at"hsr.ca.gov.

    3.    Requests for inspection or copying of public records: 
     

    • Should be specific and focused. The operational functions of the Authority will not be suspended to permit inspection of records during periods in which the records are required by Authority personnel for the performance of their duties. If the request requires review of numerous records, a mutually agreeable time should be established for the inspection of the records.
    • Should sufficiently describe records so that identification, location and retrieval of the records can be achieved without undue burden. Reasonable assistance shall be given to the requestor to help him or her satisfy this requirement.
    • Should be reduced to writing unless the request involves records that are readily available for immediate public inspection. (The requestor may be asked, but cannot be required, to submit the request in writing.)

    4.    The Authority may refuse to disclose any records that are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. It may also delay responding to a request when necessary to determine whether any such exemptions apply.

    5.    Physical inspection of the records shall be permitted within the Authority’s offices and under the conditions determined by the Authority. Upon either the completion of the inspection or at the request of Authority personnel, the person conducting the inspection shall relinquish physical possession of the records. Persons inspecting Authority records shall not destroy, mutilate, deface, alter, or remove any such records from the Authority. The Authority reserves the right to have Authorityal personnel present during the inspection of records in order to prevent the loss or destruction of records.

    6.    Upon any request for a physical copy of records, Authority personnel shall provide copies of the records only upon payment of a fee covering the costs of duplication, including reimbursement for the cost of any staff directly involved in the effort to duplicate the records. This requirement may be waived where the cost is minimal. There is no charge for the mere inspection of records.

    7.    Persons found guilty of stealing, willfully destroying, mutilating, defacing, altering or falsifying, removing or secreting the whole or any part of a document, map, book, paper or other record, or who permits any other person to do so, is punishable by imprisonment in state prison, or in a county jail, not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment (Government Code sections 6200-6201).

    8.    Copies of these guidelines shall be posted in a conspicuous public place in the office of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Copies shall also be made available free of charge to any person requesting a copy.