FAQ > Sunshine Laws FAQs > To whom does the Public Records Act apply?

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To whom does the Public Records Act apply?
The rights and duties set out in the Act apply only to a “public office or person responsible for public records,” which includes governmental subdivisions, private entities that are the “substantial equivalent” of public institutions, and other “persons responsible for public records.” The act does not apply to private organizations, including corporations, and is also different from the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which applies only to federal agencies. ORC 149.011(A).