Open Records
Effective October 1, 2024, every ACCS entity shall task at least one employee with responding to public records requests and designate them as the ACCS entity’s public officer for purposes of complying with Alabama Code 36-12-40 through 46. This public officer may be designated as a public records clerk or assistant, public records officer, public records specialist, or public records coordinator, depending on other tasks assigned and agreed by the ACCS System Office, or they may continue with their current title as long as their job description is updated to reflect this public officer task.
Effective October 1, 2024, every ACCS entity shall adopt this written procedure (or a substantially similar procedure in accordance with Alabama Code 36-12-40 through 46) and post the written procedure on the ACCS entity’s website, along with the Open Records Form (which template shall be provided by the Chancellor’s Office).
PROCEDURE FOR OPEN RECORD REQUESTS:
We have no obligation under the law to respond to a public records request that is not made in accordance with these posted procedures and instructions.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Any Alabama resident desiring to inspect or take a copy of a public record shall submit a public records request on the Open Records Request Form. Once complete, this Open Records Request Form must be submitted to the public officer, either by:
- hand-delivery addressed to the public officer above at the address provided; or
- mailing addressed to the public officer above at the address provided; or
- emailing to the public officer at the address provided.
Receipt of a hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed public records request occurs when the request is actually received by the public officer. A read email receipt, certified mail receipt, or similar signed postage receipt shall be prima facie evidence of receipt by the public officer.