Claire M. Abdelahad v. Department of Public Health - Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Recertification (SPR 20160434)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords June 30, 2016 SPR16/434 Ms. Patricia Depew Department of Public Health 99 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111 Dear Ms. Depew: I have received the petition of Claire M. Abdelahad appealing the response of the Department of Public Health- Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Recertification (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Abdelahad requested "a signed copy of the Federal Grant which funds the Federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) Survey Program." Initially you replied to her request but after an extended amount of time and Ms. Abdelahad did not receive the responsive records. Ms. Abdelahad petitioned this office. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days of the request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. The response may be an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified that a revised response will be provided. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a proper written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Abdelahad may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). cc: Ms. Claire M. Abdelahad OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre