While our earlier Flash report about the enactment of SB 1145 was correct, we included an incorrect e-mail address for filing a public records act request with SCIF. The correct address is  publicrecords@scif.com .

A basic tenet of the California Public Records Act is that members of the public must be allowed to inspect and/or obtain copies of public documents during normal business hours, copies must furnished (either for free or a modest fee) and a response to a request must be made within 10 calendar days except under extenuating circumstances when it may be extended to 14 days. (A copy of State Fund's guidelines for submitting PRA requests , as well as a copy of its pre-formatted request form , are available in our resources section.)

Agencies do have some leeway in complying with the regulation - such as the amount of the fee charged for copying or faxing documents, although these must be tied to the direct cost of duplication - and SB 1145 created a major caveat to the act by its broad construction of what can be considered privileged information. Generally, however, the act considers all handwritings, photographs, film, and digital records-- including computer files and e-mails-- related to the conduct of the public business to be public documents.

Generally, a request for documents is made in writing, which is useful in establishing the start of the 10-day clock. The request should identify the documents or information being sought as clearly as possible, although agencies are obligated under the act to assist in making a more focused request. The letter should also clearly state that the request is being made under the California Public Records Act. Requests can also ask for documents in an electronic format, if they are available

Requests can be submitted to:

State Compensation Insurance Fund
Public Records Office
P.O. Box 423870
San Francisco, CA 94142-3870

Submissions can also be made via fax at 415-565-3806 or by e-mail at publicrecords@scif.com .

A public records viewing room is also being established at SCIF's headquarters at 1275 Market Street in San Francisco, although the carrier says it will make arrangements to view documents at other SCIF offices.

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