Working Papers are defined as?

• A. Public Records from point of creation to destruction regardless of final intended record produced.
• B. Drafts that are not subject to public access.
• C. Only final records after review.
• D. Private notes not intended for action.

Answer: (A)

Working papers are the official records created during an enforcement action that are public records from the moment they’re created until they’re destroyed, regardless of what final record is produced. This means drafts, notes, and internal documents that contribute to the case are part of the public file and subject to retention schedules, not kept private simply because they’re not the final report. Their status as public records persists through the process even if the final outcome or the final document differs, though some items may be exempt from disclosure under specific laws. The other options imply drafts or private notes aren’t public or only final records are kept, which doesn’t match the standard definition of working papers.