Mikhael El-Bayeh v. Office of the Attorney General (SPR 20240205)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 7, 2024 SPR24/0205 Hanne Rush, Esq. Assistant Attorney General Records Access Officer Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 20th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Attorney Rush: I have received the petition of Mikhael El-Bayeh appealing the response of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 8, 2024, Mr. El-Bayeh requested the following records: [1.] Employee handbooks, personnel manuals, and any other internal policies, procedures, regulations, etc. governing [an identified individual’s] employment with the AGO, including, but not limited to, any such records regarding employee vacation time[.] [2.] Records related to [an identified individual’s] scheduled vacation between January 16 and January 24, 2024, including, but not limited to, any records showing when said vacation or vacation request was recorded into any government information system, as well as any emails, text messages, or other communications related to said vacation time and supervisory approval thereof[.] The AGO responded on January 23, 2024. Unsatisfied with the response, Mr. El-Bayeh petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/0205, was opened as a result. It is my understanding that the AGO intends on providing a further response to Mr. El- Bayeh. Accordingly, the AGO is to provide Mr. El-Bayeh with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. El-Bayeh may appeal the substantive nature of the AGO’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

Hanne Rush, Esq. SPR24/0205 Page 2 February 7, 2024 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Mikhael El-Bayeh