Are all documents that government officials have in their possession considered public records?
Question:
Are all documents that government officials have in their possession considered public records?
Answer:
Yes, if the record relates to government business.
An Iowa Public Information Board Advisory Opinion (IPIB AO 2018-19) issued on November 15, 2018, states that whether any given item constitutes a public record requires determining if the government official was acting as a public official or a private citizen when receiving, responding to, or generating that document.
If the record concerns are negotiating for the common good, welfare, or rules binding the public body and citizens as a whole, then they fall within the scope of Chapter 22 and are usually public records.