Exemptions to the Open Records law in Alaska include the following:

Sec. 40.25.120. Public records; exceptions; certified copies.

(a) Every person has a right to inspect a public record in the state, including public records in recorders' offices, except

(1) records of vital statistics and adoption proceedings, which shall be treated in the manner required by AS 18.50;

(2) records pertaining to juveniles unless disclosure is authorized by law;

(3) medical and related public health records;

(4) records required to be kept confidential by a federal law or regulation or by state law;

(5) to the extent the records are required to be kept confidential under 20 U.S.C. 1232g and the regulations adopted under 20 U.S.C. 1232g in order to secure or retain federal assistance;

(6) records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of the law enforcement records or information

(A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings;

(B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication;

(C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of a suspect, defendant, victim, or witness;

(D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source;

(E) would disclose confidential techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions;

(F) would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if the disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law; or

(G) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual;

(7) names, addresses, and other information identifying a person as a participant in the Alaska Higher Education Savings Trust under AS 14.40.802 or the advance college tuition savings program under AS 14.40.803 - 14.40.817;

(8) public records containing information that would disclose or might lead to the disclosure of a component in the process used to execute or adopt an electronic signature if the disclosure would or might cause the electronic signature to cease being under the sole control of the person using it;

(9) (See delayed repeal note). reports submitted under AS 05.25.030 concerning certain collisions, accidents, or other casualties involving boats;

(10) records or information pertaining to a plan, program, or procedures for establishing, maintaining, or restoring security in the state, or to a detailed description or evaluation of systems, facilities, or infrastructure in the state, but only to the extent that the production of the records or information

(A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with the implementation or enforcement of the security plan, program, or procedures;

(B) would disclose confidential guidelines for investigations or enforcement and the disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law; or

(C) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual or to present a real and substantial risk to the public health and welfare.

(b) Every public officer having the custody of records not included in the exceptions shall permit the inspection, and give on demand and on payment of the fees under AS 40.25.110 - 40.25.115 a certified copy of the record, and the copy shall in all cases be evidence of the original.

(c) Recorders shall permit memoranda, transcripts, and copies of the public records in their offices to be made by photography or otherwise for the purpose of examining titles to real estate described in the public records, making abstracts of title or guaranteeing or insuring the titles of the real estate, or building and maintaining title and abstract plants; and shall furnish proper and reasonable facilities to persons having lawful occasion for access to the public records for those purposes, subject to reasonable rules and regulations, in conformity to the direction of the court, as are necessary for the protection of the records and to prevent interference with the regular discharge of the duties of the recorders and their employees.

Sec. 40.25.140. Confidentiality of library records.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, the names, addresses, or other personal identifying information of people who have used materials made available to the public by a library shall be kept confidential, except upon court order, and are not subject to inspection under AS 40.25.110 or 40.25.120. This section applies to libraries operated by the state, a municipality, or a public school, including the University of Alaska.

(b) Records of a public elementary or secondary school library identifying a minor child shall be made available on request to a parent or guardian of that child.

Sec. 40.25.151. Confidentiality of retirement records.

(a) Except as provided in (b) - (d) of this section, public records, including electronic services and products involving public records, containing information about a person and maintained under AS 14.25, AS 22.25, AS 26.05.222 - 26.05.229, AS 39.35, or former AS 39.37 shall be kept confidential and are not subject to inspection or copying under AS 40.25.110 - 40.25.120.

(b) Records described in (a) of this section concerning a person who is a member or former member of a state retirement system who is still living may only be released to

(1) the person or the person's guardian;

(2) the person's employer or former employer;

(3) a state agency authorized to obtain confidential information;

(4) another person if the person has

(A) written authorization for release from the affected member or former member or the member's or former member's guardian; or

(B) a court order or subpoena to obtain the information.

(c) Records described in (a) of this section concerning a member or former member of a state retirement system who is deceased or a deceased member's named beneficiary may only be released to

(1) the member's named beneficiary or the beneficiary's guardian;

(2) the member's or former member's former employer;

(3) a state agency authorized to obtain confidential information;

(4) the personal representative of the member's or former member's estate;

(5) another person if the person has

(A) written authorization for release from the member or former member, the member's named beneficiary, or the personal representative of the member's or former member's estate; or

(B) a court order or subpoena to secure the information.

(d) The name and address of a living person who is a member or former member of a state retirement system may be released to a retirement organization representing persons receiving benefits under a state retirement system if the retirement organization is affiliated with an organization representing employees of the employer under AS 23.40.070 - 23.40.260 (Public Employment Relations Act).

(e) In this section, "state retirement system" means the teachers' retirement system under AS 14.25, the judicial retirement system under AS 22.25, the retirement system for members of the national guard under AS 26.05.222 - 26.05.229, the public employees' retirement system under AS 39.35, or the elected public officers retirement system under former AS 39.37.


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