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California Public Records Act (CPRA)

On this page (3 sections)
  1. Unofficial plain-language summary
  2. Using it in Williams
  3. Sources cited on this page

Official text: Gov. Code §7920.000 and following Verified1. Start at §7920.000 on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. We read the sections in the table below on that official site on October 29, 2026. The full text is not copied here; open the link to read it.

The California Constitution says the people have "the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business" (Art. I, §3(b)(1)) Verified2. Read Article I, Section 3.

Unofficial plain-language summary

Unofficial summary Not legal advice; the statute controls.

Topic Section What it says (summary) Label
Response time §7922.535 The agency must decide within 10 days whether it has disclosable records and tell you; it may extend by up to 14 days in unusual circumstances. Verified34
Partial release §7922.525 You may inspect records during office hours. Any part that can reasonably be separated must be released after the exempt parts are removed. Verified56
Help with your request §7922.600 The agency must help you identify the records that answer your request, describe the technology and physical location of the records, and suggest ways around practical problems that would block access. Verified7
Court enforcement §7923.000, §7923.100 You can sue to enforce the Act; a successful requester can get court costs and attorney's fees. Verified8910

"Verified" means we read the section ourselves; the rows marked with a leginfo source were read on the official site. The statute controls, so quote the section itself in a request.

Using it in Williams

Sources cited on this page

  1. California Public Records Act, Gov. Code §7920.000 et seq. (official) (California Legislative Information; official; accessed 2026-10-29) Opens §7920.000, the first section of the CPRA (Division 10 of the Government Code); read directly on Oct 29, 2026: it names the division the California Public Records Act. ↗
  2. Constitutions of California and the United States, 2025-26 edition (PDF) (California State Senate; official; accessed 2026-10-17) California Constitution as last amended November 5, 2024. ↗
  3. Government Code §7922.535 (California Public Records Act: 10-day response) (California.Public.Law (copy of California statute); unofficial / third-party; accessed 2026-10-23) Unofficial copy of the statute, read directly. Confirm on leginfo before relying on it. ↗
  4. Gov. Code §7922.535 (CPRA: 10-day determination) (California Legislative Information; official; accessed 2026-10-29) Official text read directly on Oct 29, 2026: within 10 days of a request the agency must decide whether it has disclosable public records and promptly tell the requester; in unusual circumstances the deadline may be extended by written notice for up to 14 days (as amended effective 2026, unusual circumstances also include a cyberattack or a declared state of emergency). ↗
  5. Gov. Code §7922.525 (CPRA: inspection and reasonably segregable portions) (California Legislative Information; official; accessed 2026-10-29) Official text read directly on Oct 29, 2026: records may be inspected during office hours, and any reasonably segregable portion must be made available after deleting the exempt portions. ↗
  6. Government Code §7922.525 (California Public Records Act: right to inspect) (California.Public.Law (copy of California statute); unofficial / third-party; accessed 2026-10-23) Unofficial copy of the statute, read directly. Confirm on leginfo before relying on it. ↗
  7. Gov. Code §7922.600 (CPRA: duty to help identify records) (California Legislative Information; official; accessed 2026-10-29) Official text read directly on Oct 29, 2026: the agency must assist the requester to identify records responsive to the request, describe the information technology and physical location of the records, and suggest ways to overcome any practical basis for denying access. ↗
  8. Gov. Code §7923.000 (CPRA: right to sue) (California.Public.Law (copy of California statute); unofficial / third-party; accessed 2026-10-23) Unofficial copy of the statute, read directly. Confirm on leginfo before relying on it. ↗
  9. Gov. Code §7923.100 (CPRA: petition to superior court) (California.Public.Law (copy of California statute); unofficial / third-party; accessed 2026-10-23) Unofficial copy of the statute, read directly. Confirm on leginfo before relying on it. ↗
  10. Gov. Code §7923.115 (CPRA: costs and attorney's fees) (California.Public.Law (copy of California statute); unofficial / third-party; accessed 2026-10-23) Unofficial copy of the statute, read directly. Confirm on leginfo before relying on it. ↗
  11. City Clerk (public records requests, Form 700 filing officer) (City of Williams; official; accessed 2026-10-29) City Clerk's office, 810 E Street (P.O. Box 310). Phone (530) 235-3274, or (530) 473-2955 Ext. 111. This page has an online Public Records Request form and links a PDF request form. ↗
  12. Records Request or Request for Information form (PDF) (City of Williams, City Clerk; official; accessed 2026-10-29) The City Clerk's paper form for public records requests. The City Clerk page also links an online Public Records Request form. ↗
  13. City Council page (meeting schedule, members, contact) (City of Williams; official; accessed 2026-10-17) Says regular meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 810 E Street; call (530) 235-3270 or (530) 473-2955. Re-read Oct 31, 2026: the page's contact box lists the City Council at (530) 235-3274 or (530) 473-2955, the same number the city directory gives the City Clerk. ↗

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