The Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado government entities can make access to public records virtually impossible, or at least very difficult to review simply by putting the information into a format that is far from user-friendly.

That’s why we support state legislation, Senate Bill 40, to require government officials to release data, if requested, in a “structured data or searchable format.”

The focus of SB40 is digital or electronic records that can be — or should be — accessible by online computer. The aim is to prevent government entities from converting mass data into unusable printouts or computer attachments, thus defeating the law’s purpose of open and accessible public records.

Government agencies may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of complying with open records format requests.

Custodians of records would have to explain in writing why they cannot comply with releasing data as requested.

SB40, sponsored by Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, would amend the Colorado Open Records Act to make public records accessible in an understandable format. For example, individuals or the news media could request that the custodian release county salary and government expenditures, just two types of information covered by the open records law, in a spreadsheet or similar format that can be easily searched and sorted.

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