Handbook Manual

The Office of Public Access Counselor is pleased to provide you with a copy of this “Handbook on Indiana’s Public Access Laws.” The Indiana General Assembly created this office in July 1999. The role of the office, among other things, is to prepare and distribute interpretive and educational materials such as this handbook. This handbook is available in .pdf format on our website, www.IN.gov/pac. In this handbook, you will find the text of the two major public access statutes applicable to state and local public agencies: the Indiana Open Door Law, which governs meetings of governing bodies of public agencies, and the Access to Public Records Act, which governs access to public records. This handbook includes updates to the laws through the 2008 session of the Indiana General Assembly. In addition to the text of these statutes, we have included references to court cases interpreting these statutes. Also included are the statute and rules governing the operation of the Office of the Public Access Counselor. The appendices at the back of the handbook include a checklist for public agencies responding to requests for public records, a sample records request letter, sample meeting notices and our formal complaint form. This handbook addresses many issues but is not intended to be a substitute for seeking advice from legal counsel. Please feel free to contact this office using the contact information provided on the back cover of this handbook if you have any questions or problems related to the public access statutes.

Handbook on Indiana’s Public Access Laws