By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect public records. The procedures outlined below are specific to requests pertaining to records in possession of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. Requests for records specific to state agencies are best directed to the localized custodian at each agency.

Procedures for Requesting Inspection

Requests to inspect public records in possession of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department should be submitted to the office’s records custodian, located at the 1120 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM  87501, and can be directed via our online Public Request Portal or by email to ececd.records@ececd.nm.gov.

Any person wishing to inspect public records may submit a request to the records custodian orally or in writing. However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by the Act apply only to written requests. A written request must contain the name, address, email address and telephone number of the person making the request. The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the records custodian to identify and locate the requested records.

The records custodian must permit inspection immediately or as soon as practicable, but no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the records custodian receives the inspection request, unless the custodian determines that the written request is overly burdensome or broad and an additional reasonable period of time is needed to respond. If inspection is not permitted within three (3) business days, the person making the request will receive a written response explaining when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond to the request. If any of the records sought are not available for public inspection, the person making the request is entitled to a written response from the records custodian explaining the reasons inspection has been denied. The written denial shall be delivered or mailed within fifteen (15) calendar days after the records custodian received the request for inspection.

Procedure for Requesting Copies and Fees

If a person requesting inspection would like a copy of a public record, a reasonable fee may be charged. The fee for printed documents eleven (11) inches by seventeen (17) inches or smaller is $ .50 per page. A reasonable fee may be charged for downloading copies of public records to a computer disk or storage device, including but not limited to a fee covering the cost of the device. Reasonable fees may be charged for transmitting public records, including transmissions by mail, or by facsimile.

When records exist exclusively in paper, or analog, format and the process of digitizing analog copies of records for electronic release is required, the records custodian may request that applicable fees for copying public records be paid in advance, before the copies are made or transmitted. A receipt indicating that the fees have been paid will be provided upon request to the person requesting the copies.

Generally, the Early Childhood Education and care Department will provide responsive records via email free of charge.

For a copy of the Inspection of Public Records Act Compliance Guide, please visit the New Mexico Attorney General’s website at www.nmag.gov.