Public Records Overview - Q&A

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What

What Is a Public Record?
The California Public Records Act, Government Code §6250 et. Seq (“CPRA”), defines a public record as, “[any]… writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristic.” Public records can include, but are not limited to, papers, books, maps, charts, photographs, audiotapes, videotapes, and information stored on a computer.
What Can Be Requested?
All records are available to the public unless there is a statute that exempts them from disclosure. California Government Code §6254 provides a partial list of records that may be exempt from disclosure. California Government Code §6255 further provides that LACERA may exempt records when the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record. LACERA will determine if it has responsive records subject to disclosure and will notify the requester within 10 days of receipt of the request of the availability of records. LACERA may refuse to disclose any records or portions of records which are exempt by law from disclosure. The requester will be notified in writing if information has been redacted or if records are being withheld from disclosure.

Who

Who Can Request Public Records?
Anyone may make a request to inspect or obtain a copy of a public record. A requester is not required to provide any personal identification or reason for the request. If you are a member of the public, please submit your request to PublicRecords@lacera.com.

If you are a LACERA member looking for your own account information, including change of address forms, W2/1099 forms, general information, or beneficiary information, please sign in, email us, or call us at 800-786-6464.

Where

Where to Find or Request LACERA Records?
You can find frequently requested LACERA records here at LACERA’s website. You may also use the search box located on most LACERA web pages. If you are unable to locate a record either in LACERA’s CPRA web links or through a search, you may email your request to: PublicRecords@lacera.com
Alternatively you may mail your request to:

LACERA
c/o Public Record Request
300 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 620
Pasadena, CA 91101

You may call LACERA at:
(626) 564-6000 or (800) 786-6464
On site at LACERA. These types of requests for inspection or copies must be conducted during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) at 300 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The building is secured and only partially open to the public. As a result, visitors must comply with building security protocol.

When

When Can You Expect a Response?
Upon a request for records that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, LACERA will make every reasonable effort to make the records promptly available to you upon the payment of any applicable fees. In most cases, this will be within 10 days. In some instances of more voluminous or complex requests, LACERA may require more than 10 days to respond to a request. In such a case, LACERA will communicate the amount of time needed to respond.

How

How to Make a Request
  1. You may make an oral or written request to LACERA.
  2. To expedite your request, be specific about which records you are seeking. For example, you may want to provide a date range for your request, the department or staff who created the requested record(s), and/or any helpful keywords. To expedite your request, be specific, focused, and detailed about which records you are seeking.
  3. Provide contact information or arrange to call or meet with a department representative at a later time to discuss the availability of the requested records.
  4. Let LACERA know whether you wish to inspect the records or have copies made (which may involve a cost; see below).
How Much Does it Cost to Obtain Public Records?
There is no charge to review records; however, the CPRA permits LACERA to charge a fee to cover any duplication, electronic media, and/or data system programming costs. Generally, copies are:
  • $0.15 for a single-sided page
  • $0.30 for a double-sided page
  • $3.00 for a data compact disc

Copies of records will be provided after the receipt of payment. Requesters may pay for records using money order, check or cash. If payment is made by check, records may be withheld until the check has cleared.