Zachary Price v. Department of Children and Families (SPR 20220468)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 9, 2022 SPR22/0468 Steven S. Treat, Esq. Assistant General Counsel – Records Access Officer Department of Children and Families 600 Washington Street, 6th Floor Boston, MA 02111 Dear Attorney Treat: I have received the petition of Zachary Price appealing the response of the Department of Children and Families (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On November 15, 2021, Mr. Price requested records and information from January 1, 2017 until November 9, 2021, specifically: 1. Electronic records (i.e. an extract of your database) of responses to the question about immigration status from the DCF Foster Care/Adoption Applications on all Foster Care/Adoption applications filed during this time frame whether in electronic or paper format; 2. Recorded decisions finding applicants ineligible at the initial screening, under 100 C.M.R. 7.100(4)(i), due to their lack of Permanent Immigration Status; 3. Records of decisions made to deny a foster or pre-adoptive caregiver license to an individual under 100 C.M.R. 7.104(6) because of their lack of Permanent Immigration Status; 4. Redacted copies of any and all waivers applied for under 110 C.M.R. 7.105A; and 5. Redacted copies of the decision on the waivers under 110 C.M.R. 7.105A. Mr. Price received a response on November 30, 2021 from the Department acknowledging the request. The Department indicated that due to the magnitude of the request they required an extension of time until December 7, 2021. However, to date Mr. Price has neither received any further response or records. As a result, Mr. Price petitioned the Supervisor of Records (Supervisor), and this appeal was opened. In a telephone conversation on March 9, 2022, Attorney Treat informed a member of my legal staff, that Mr. Price will receive a telephone call and a written response concerning the request. 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

Steven S. Treat, Esq. SPR22/0468 Page 2 March 9, 2022 Order Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Mr. Price with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 10 business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Price may appeal the substantive nature of the response within 90 calendar days. 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Zachary Price