State of California · Public records
How California agencies can automate Public Records Act requests
Short answer: California agencies can automate most of the Public Records Act workflow (intake, search, responsiveness review, redaction support, response assembly and deadline tracking) while staff keep every disclosure decision.
The CPRA gives an agency 10 days to determine whether a request seeks disclosable records, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances (Government Code §7922.535). AB 1821, signed in September 2026, changes those to business days starting January 1, 2027. Either way, the biggest gain from automation is getting search and review done inside the window.
11:59 builds and runs this as the PRA Accelerator. It is deployed in the agency's own cloud and contracted through CMAS or the TDDC MSA.
What can be automated, and what stays with staff
| Step | What the agent does | What staff decide |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Reads each request, logs it, starts the statutory clock and flags unclear requests | Whether to ask the requester to clarify |
| Search | Searches email, shared drives and records systems, and assembles candidate records | Which systems are in scope |
| Responsiveness review | Ranks records by relevance and explains why each was included | What is responsive |
| Redaction support | Flags personal information and possible exemptions, with reasons | Every exemption and redaction |
| Response and tracking | Drafts the determination letter, assembles the release and tracks deadlines and extensions | Final sign-off before anything is sent |
Why deadlines are the pressure point
Under Government Code §7922.535, an agency must tell the requester within 10 days whether the request seeks disclosable records and when they will be available. AB 1821 (Chapter 899, Statutes of 2026) counts the 10 days and the 14-day extension as business days starting January 1, 2027. An extension of up to 14 days is allowed only in unusual circumstances, such as voluminous records, records at separate facilities or consultation with another agency. Requests that need searches across many systems are the ones most likely to miss the window, so that is where automation helps most.
What to look for in a CPRA automation partner
- It runs in your cloud. Records stay in your tenant, under your identity provider and retention rules.
- People make every disclosure decision. The agent proposes and explains. Staff decide.
- A record of every step. Each search, inclusion and redaction is logged, so the agency can show its work if a determination is challenged.
- Someone runs it after launch. Search sources and request patterns change, so the system needs monitoring and tuning.
- A contract path you already have. No new procurement for the first deployment.
Who does this: 11:59
After go-live, 11:59 Operate runs the system in your cloud: monitoring, tuning and a monthly report on volume, quality and staff hours returned.
Common questions
Does AI decide what is exempt from disclosure?
No. The agent proposes what is responsive and flags possible exemptions and redactions with its reasons. A records officer makes every disclosure and exemption decision.
Can it run in our own cloud?
Yes. 11:59 deploys the PRA Accelerator into your own AWS or Azure tenant, under your identity provider, with a record of every step.
How do California agencies contract with 11:59?
Through the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS 3-24-01-1044) or the TDDC MSA #5-22-70-25-189, as a SOW under an existing agreement.
Does this work for cities and counties?
Yes. The CPRA applies to local agencies as well as state agencies, and 11:59 also serves California cities.
Start here
An AI Rapid Scan looks at your request volume, sources and deadlines, and returns a fixed deployment quote. It is scoped to the effort and quoted before we start.
Schedule an AI Rapid ScanDownload the PRA Accelerator product sheet (PDF, two pages, no form)
Sources
California Government Code §7922.535 · AB 1821 (2026), CPRA agency response time · First Amendment Coalition: CPRA delays explainer