Reed, Banjamin Stuard

Alaska Public Records Act

Alaska Statue 44.25.110 et seq.

The Alaska Public Records Act states that most records in the possession of municipal (and state) government are subject to disclosure and this applies to municipalities. Citizens should presume that all records are public and subject to inspection by any member of the public.  The only reason a record may be withheld from public disclosure is if a legal exception can be identified that authorizes withholding access.

Section AS 40.25.220(3) in the Alaska Public Records Act defines “public records” to mean “books, papers, files, accounts, writings, including drafts and memorializations of conversations, and other items, regardless of format or physical characteristics, that are developed or received by a public agency, or by a private contractor for a public agency, and that are preserved for their informational value or as evidence of the organization or operation of the public agency; ‘public records’ does not include proprietary software programs.”