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Guidelines for Access to Public Records

Public records maintained by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) are available for public inspection according to the following procedures:

1. Records are available for inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2. Requests for inspection or copying of public records:
   1. Should be specific, focused and not interfere with the ordinary business operations of the DFEH. Where a request is not specific and focused, DFEH staff will assist the requester to identify the requested information, describe the technology or physical location of the record, and provide suggestions on how to overcome practical barriers to disclosure. The operational functions of the DFEH will not be suspended to permit inspection of records during periods in which such records are reasonably required by DFEH personnel in 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.
   2. Should sufficiently describe the records so that they can be identified, located, and retrieved by DFEH personnel.
   3. Can be made orally or in writing, but the DFEH encourages written requests unless the request seeks records that are maintained by the DFEH for immediate public inspection. Please note, closed investigative files are placed in storage and are not readily available, thus requiring the request to be in writing.
3. The DFEH may refuse to disclose any records which are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. (See e.g., Gov. Code § 6254 et seq.)
4. Inspection of records will be allowed upon conditions determined by the DFEH. Upon either the completion of the inspection or the oral request of DFEH personnel, the person conducting the inspection shall relinquish physical possession of the records. Persons inspecting DFEH records shall not destroy, mutilate, deface, alter or remove any such records from the DFEH. The DFEH reserves the right to have DFEH personnel present during the inspection of records in order to prevent the loss or destruction of records.
5. Copies of records that are not exempt from disclosure are available upon pre-payment of the copying costs (.10 cents per page).
6. These guidelines shall be posted in a conspicuous public place in the DFEH, and a free copy shall be provided upon request.