Open Government Guide

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Open Records

   III. STATE LAW ON ELECTRONIC RECORDS

      A. Can the requester choose a format for receiving records?


The Statute permits a public body that maintains records in a computer storage system to provide a printout of a public record rather than producing the original document. RSA 91-A:4, V. That said, if a requester can demonstrate substantial burden in terms of time or expense the public body may be required to produce the public record(s) in the format requested. See Menge v. City of Manchester, 113 N.H. 533 (1973) (City ordered to copy its computer tape instead of producing individual property tax card records); compare Hawkins v. N.H. Dep't of Health and Human Services, 147 N.H. 376 (2001) (Statute does not require public bodies to create new records).



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