Despite concerns Senate gives initial approval to new Open Records law

  Despite a number of concerns, the State Senate gave initial approval to an updated Wyoming Public Records law.  The bill clearly defines what a public record is and sets up procedures over what a government entity is reasonably expected to supply. 

Many Senators expressed surprise and concern that most government bodies would have to supply public records if asked, but Senate Judiciary Chairman Drew Perkins noted that those things are already required under existing law.  Sheridan Republican Bruce Burns successfully amended the bill to not require disclosure of communication between a private citizen and a single elected official.                  

“A lot of people, a lot of common citizens out there will communicate with their elected official, who they trust, not realizing that could become part of the public record.  If they’re sending it, in let’s say in a written form to everybody on the city council or public board, then they should have a full expectation that would be a public record.”

Burns has indicated that he may still vote against the bill.   The Senate will debate the measure two more times.