Hannah Reale v. Department of Public Health (SPR 20211839)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records August 6, 2021 SPR21/1839 Helen Rush-Lloyd Records Access Officer Department of Public Health 250 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Rush-Lloyd: I have received the petition of Hannah Reale of WGBH appealing the response of the Department of Public Health (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On June 22, 2021, Ms. Reale requested “… underlying data for the weekly COVID reports, going back to their beginnings[.]” The Department responded on July 9, 2021. Unsatisfied with the response, Ms. Reale appealed and SPR21/1839 was opened as a result. Based upon a conversation between a Public Records Department staff attorney and a Department representative, it is my understanding that the Department intends on providing a subsequent response to Ms. Reale. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Reale with a response to her request in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Reale may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Hannah Reale One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us