Laura H. Ortiz v. Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (SPR 20220433)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 8, 2022 SPR22/0433 Molly Karp, Esq. General Counsel Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission 600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 Dear Attorney Karp: I have received the petition of Laura Ortiz appealing the nonresponse of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (Commission) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 23, 2022, Ms. Ortiz requested: [1] All 2021/2022 existing and utilized MRC/other policies in regards to disability, religion and COVID-19/Flu vaccination, whatever you refer to it as [;] [2] Any 2021/2022 MRC/other exemption case determination policies or other guidance/other in regards to disability, religion and COVID-19/Flu vaccination status decision, whatever you refer to it as [;] [3] Any 2021/2022 MRC Exemption forms for medical and/or religion [;] [4] Data on how many MRC employees were allowed an exemption for medical and/or religion in 2020, 2021 and thus far in 2022 (we are not asking for names or ANY personal identifying public records, we're asking for the total number for each year and as of this date if applicable portions only, of state reported data collection records) [;] [5] 2021/2022 MRC Policy for sending former employee information to the states Department of Unemployment Assistance DUA/UI and/or its Database after a prior employee files a UI claim, any personal identifying employee records) [.] Claiming to not yet have received a response, Ms. Ortiz petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/0433, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Commission intends on providing a written response to Ms. Ortiz. Accordingly, the Commission is ordered to provide Ms. Ortiz with a response in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Access Regulations and this order within ten business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Ortiz may appeal the substantive nature of the Commission’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Molly Karp, Esq. SPR22/0433 Page 2 March 8, 2022 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Laura Ortiz