Agency predictive model documentation (Department of Public Health)
| Tracking # |
OGC-2021-129 |
| Multi Request | Agency predictive model documentation |
| Submitted | Oct. 21, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) Executive summaries, algorithmic impact reports, predictive model reports, and/or model validation studies dating from Jan. 1, 2017 until the present for all predictive analytics tools and automated decision systems (ADS) used by the agency. This includes predictive models and ADSs built in-house as well as those built by vendors for the agency or those used by agency employees through third-party software.
2) All contracts and statements of work regarding the purchase and/or creation of tools identified in response to part one of this request.
2) A data dictionary/library for each predictive model and ADS identified in response to part one of this request. Please note: Data dictionaries list the names of data fields (i.e. column headers in a spreadsheet), they do not contain the actual data analyzed by models.
If you have any questions regarding this request, please don't hesitate to contact me for further clarification.
I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist and intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.
Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of responsive documents, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Department of Public Health
Dear Todd,
The Department of Public Health has received your public records request. Are you still with Lowell Sun?
In order to process this timely, we will need clarification as to specifically what predictive models you are requesting. The Department is quite large.
Many thanks,
Helen
Helen Rush-Lloyd
Records Access Officer
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Helen.Rush-Lloyd@mass.gov<mailto:Helen.Rush-Lloyd@mass.gov>
Office: 617-624-5223
Website: www.mass.gov/dph<http://www.mass.gov/dph>
Blog: http://publichealth.blog.mass.gov<http://publichealth.blog.mass.gov/>
Follow us on www.Twitter.com/MassDPH<http://www.twitter.com/MassDPH>
Pronouns: she/her (Why does this matter?<https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why/>)
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From: Department of Public Health
Mr. Feathers,
Attached please find the response from the Department of Public Health in regards to you public records request. Thank you.
Best,
Jennifer K. Soivilien
Paralegal Specialist - Public Records
MA Department of Public Health
781.540.4409 - mobile
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