Note: Officially, "public" records are those held by a govt agency. Disclosable public records are records available to the public.
But, for today, here: "Public" records shall mean disclosable records.
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) declares and mandates:
The Right - §6250: ... the Legislature, mindful of the right of individuals to privacy, finds and declares that access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. [nice frufru, but non-binding]
Any Writing - §6252(d): "Public records" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. [includes computer rcds]
Right to Inspect - §6253(a): Public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect an public record, except as hereafter provided. [there are tons and oodles of exceptions]
Greater Access - §6253.1: ... a state or local agency may adopt requirements for itself which allow greater access to records than prescribed by the minimum standards ...
Right to Copies - §6256: A person may receive a copy of any identifiable public record or copy thereof. Upon request, an exact copy shall be provided unless impracticable to do so. ...
[But - the ringer!] Computer data shall be provided in a form determined by the agency.
The copying fee - §6257: ... each state or local agency ... shall make the records promptly available to any person, upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee.