‘Bill drafting transparency’ measure dies in Colorado House committee
A state House committee killed legislation to require the online publication of bill drafts more than a month before the start of each session of the Colorado General Assembly.
Public Records Laws
Colorado judicial branch considers opening records on completed personnel investigations
Amid multiple probes into allegations of employee misconduct, the Colorado Judicial Department is considering a new rule that would make records of many completed personnel investigations accessible to the public.
Proposed rules for Colorado ethics commission ‘limit transparency and public oversight’
The constitutionally created state commission that investigates allegations of ethical misconduct by public officials should align proposed new procedural and records rules more closely with Colorado’s open-government laws. That’s what the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, Colorado Common Cause and the commission’s former executive director say in critical written comments submitted to the Independent Ethics Commission.
CFOIC’s 2021 year in review: sole finalists, internal affairs records, body-cam footage, peace officer database, disinformation, a judge’s order to ‘be kind’
Court rulings top CFOIC’s 2021 list of Colorado transparency highlights and lowlights, with the most impactful paving the way for a state law change that lets governments publicly name just one finalist for chief executive positions like university president, city manager and school superintendent.
News organizations’ court filing argues for disclosure of redacted portions of Tay Anderson investigative report
An attorney for The Denver Post and The Denver North Star explained in a new court filing why the news organizations believe Denver Public Schools must unredact hidden portions of an outside investigator’s report on sexual misconduct allegations against school board member Tay Anderson.
A reporter’s questions can trigger complaint requirement in new police body-cam footage law
A new Colorado law requires the public disclosure of police body-worn camera footage of incidents “in which there is a complaint of peace officer misconduct.” But what do journalists do when they want to request video, but no one has filed an official complaint?
Denver’s government can do a better job communicating with the public, city auditor says
The city of Denver should improve the way it communicates with the public to make sure community members are sufficiently informed about city government and meaningfully engaged with the decision-making process, a new report from Denver Auditor Tim O’Brien says.
Denver city auditor: Mayor’s office implemented many recommendations from 2020 report on CORA processes
A follow-up to a fault-finding May 2020 report from Denver City Auditor Tim O’Brien on the city’s process for complying with open-records requests says eight of 14 recommendations have been fully or partially implemented.
CFOIC’s new online guide to Colorado’s sunshine laws
Bookmark it. Use it. Share it. For the first time, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition’s sunshine laws guide is online — searchable and indexed by topic — with links to pertinent statutes and case law.
Judge orders release of body-cam video in case of Sheridan officer accused of choking shoplifting suspect
Another court hearing, another ruling in favor of a news media coalition under Colorado’s new law governing the public release of police body-worn camera footage.