What should you do when responding to a public records request regarding information that is public vs exempt?

• A. Determine which information is public versus exempt before replying; comply with deadlines.
• B. Release all information regardless of exemptions.
• C. Delay the response to avoid disclosure.
• D. Clear all data and respond with a generic statement.

Answer: (A)

Handling a public records request starts with distinguishing what information is public from what is exempt. This ensures you disclose what must be disclosed while protecting material that is legally protected. Review the records, separate the public portion from the exemptions, and respond within the required deadline. If a portion is exempt, redact or withhold that material and provide a brief justification citing the applicable exemption. This keeps the process transparent for the public where possible and compliant with the law.

Releasing everything ignores exemptions, which can violate legal protections. Delaying the response to avoid disclosure undermines the purpose of the request and can miss deadlines. Clearing data and replying with a generic statement prevents proper fulfillment of the request.