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Request DES Public Records

Requesting Public Records

You may submit a request for DES Public Records in the following ways:

  • Online:

    You can create an account and submit your records request through the DES Public Records Request Portal.

  • Mail:

    Arizona Department of Economic Security
    Attn: Public Records Team
    P.O. Box 6123
    Mail Drop 111G
    Phoenix, AZ 85005

  • Fax: (602) 542-6000

Under Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) § 39-121.01.D.1, at the time the request is made, the requesting person shall affirm that the public record is not for a commercial purpose or, if the public record is for a commercial purpose, the requesting person will provide a statement that explains the intended use pursuant to section 39-121.03.A. Failure to disclose a commercial purpose may result in penalties and damages as outlined in A.R.S. § 39-121.03.C.

What is a Public Record?

Under A.R.S. § 41-151, records are defined as all books, papers, maps, photographs or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, including prints or copies of such items produced or reproduced on film or electronic media…, made or received by any governmental agency in pursuance of law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriate for preservation by the agency or its legitimate successor as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations or other activities of the government, or because of the informational and historical value of data contained in the record.

Under A.R.S. § 39-121.01, state officers and public bodies are required to maintain records reasonably necessary or appropriate to maintain an accurate knowledge of their official activities and activities funded by the state.

Restrictions on the Release of Public Records

All records required to be kept under A.R.S. § 39-121.01 are presumed to be open for public inspection. [1] Footnote details However, some records are protected from release due to reasons such as confidentiality, personal privacy, preserving the best interests of the State, and attorney-client privilege. For more information, see Chapter 6 of the Arizona Attorney General Handbook, "Public Records."

Under A.R.S. § 41-1959, the personally identifiable information of any applicant, claimant, recipient, employer, or client of DES programs or services is confidential and not subject to release except as allowed by the statute.

Arizona law does not require DES to create records that do not already exist or are not regularly generated, including tallying and compiling aggregate information.[2] Footnote details The law also does not require DES to produce a record in a format other than the existing format.[3] Footnote details

Fees for Records Produced by DES

Under A.R.S. § 39-121.01.D.1, DES is permitted to charge a requestor to offset the reasonable costs incurred to gather and provide records. DES may charge the following fees for any records provided pursuant to a public records request:

Hard Copies (paper)

  • $1.00 for the first page
  • $0.25 for each additional page

Electronic Copies

  • No Charge for electronically available records provided via email
  • $25.00 per CD/DVD (if the documents already exist in an electronic format)
  • $25.00 per CD/DVD, plus the actual cost of converting the document to an electronic format (if the documents do not already exist in an electronic format)

Delivery/Transmittal

  • Actual cost of postage through the vendor and method requested
  • $2.00 per page to transmit documents via fax

Commercial Use

Under A.R.S. § 39-121.03, any person requesting public records for commercial use must disclose the purpose for which the records will be used. In addition to the fees listed above, the following commercial use fees apply:

  • $25.00 per hour for cost of production
  • Value of the records on the commercial market

Materials produced under a subpoena, where DES is not a party to the action

  • $0.25 per page and
  • $25.00 per hour for cost of production

All applicable fees can be paid via cash, cashier’s check, or money order.

DES Records Unit Contact Information

For questions regarding the DES record request process or DES Records Request Portal technical assistance, the DES Records Unit can be reached by:

Notes

  1. Carlson v. Pima Cty., 141 Ariz. 487, 491, 687 P.2d 1242, 1246 (1984) ↩
  2. Am. Civil Liberties Union v. Arizona Dep't of Child Safety, 377 P.3d 339, 342 (Ct. App. 2016) ↩
  3. Lake v. City of Phoenix, 222 Ariz. 547, 551, 218 P.3d 1004, 1008 (2009) ↩
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