Opinion ID: 1902315
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Access to Public Records

Text: Having disposed of the preliminary issues, we shall next address the principal issue presented by this appealwhether DARE is entitled to access all the records it has requested and whether these records may be in unredacted form as the trial justice ruled. We conclude that it is not. With the passage of the APRA, the Rhode Island General Assembly expressed its intent to enlarge the scope of the public's access to documents in the possession of governmental agencies. See Providence Journal Co. v. Sundlun, 616 A.2d 1131, 1133 (R.I.1992). Although we have long recognized that the underlying policy of the APRA favors the free flow and dissemination of information to the public, we have also previously concluded that the Legislature did not intend to empower the press and the public with carte blanche to demand all records held by public agencies. Id. at 1134. See also Providence Journal Co. v. Kane, 577 A.2d 661, 663 (R.I. 1990); Pawtucket Teachers Alliance Local No. 920, AFT, AFL-CIO v. Brady, 556 A.2d 556, 558 (R.I.1989). In the present case the city argues that the trial justice's decision to grant DARE access to all requested documents in unredacted form is overbroad and in violation not only of specifically enumerated exceptions prohibiting public disclosure but also of the APRA's purpose. The stated purpose of the APRA is codified at § 38-2-1 and reads: The public's right to access to records pertaining to the policy making responsibilities of government and the individual's right to dignity and privacy are both recognized to be principles of the utmost importance in a free society. The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate public access to governmental records which pertain to the policy making functions of public bodies and/or are relevant to the public health, safety, and welfare. It is also the intent of this chapter to protect from disclosure information about particular individuals maintained in the files of public bodies when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (Emphasis added.) Commensurate with the APRA's purpose of protecting individuals when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, the Legislature has enacted numerous provisions explicitly exempting certain types of records from disclosure. The city contends that the trial justice's failure to consider these statutory exemptions and his decision to utilize a balancing of interests test constitutes reversible error. We agree. Section 38-2-2(d), as amended by P.L. 1991, ch. 208, § 1, specifically exempts the following records from being deemed public: (1) All records which are identifiable to an individual applicant for benefits, clients, patient, student, or employee; including, but not limited to personnel [records], medical treatment, welfare, employment security, pupil records    and all personal or medical information relating to an individual in any files, including information relating to medical or psychological facts, personal finances, welfare, employment security, student performance or information in personnel files maintained to hire, evaluate, promote or discipline any employee of a public body;