97-06
Posted on Jun 23, 1997 in Formal OpinionsOpinion Letter No. 97-06
June 23, 1997
Disclosure of Audio Cassette Tape Recordings of Public Meetings
The Department of Health’s (“DOH”) audio cassette recordings of its public meetings are government records that are public under the UIPA. The DOH must provide another audio cassette copy rather than a written transcript of the recordings upon receiving a request for a cassette copy. Furthermore, under the UIPA, the DOH is not required to create written transcripts of the audio cassette recordings. Additionally, the DOH does not have a duty to provide copies of records which have not yet been created (i.e., there is no need to fulfill requests on a standing basis). Therefore, the DOH may require that a request to inspect or copy be made for each recording.