CFOIC looks back: Transparency highlights and lowlights in 2015
The private emails flap was one of many transparency-related stories we highlighted in 2015 or broke ourselves.
Public Records Laws
A 21st-century open-records law for Colorado
If you’re lucky, you’ll have no problem getting public information in a format that allows for searching, sorting and aggregating. Too often, however, database records are released in a format that makes analysis difficult, or they’re not released at all.
Court of Appeals hears arguments in dispute over disclosure of Jeffco teacher sick-leave records
An attorney for the Jefferson County Education Association argued that a district court judge erred in ruling that teacher sick-leave records do not qualify as personnel information that must be withheld from the public.
Proposed 2016 bill would open records of nonprofits serving people with disabilities
Prompted by the recent financial troubles of a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities, a state lawmaker plans 2016 legislation to open the records of all such agencies in Colorado that receive more than half their funds from public sources.
After multiple requests are denied, DOC decides to disclose James Holmes’ inmate number
To get a letter to convicted mass killer James Holmes at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Cañon City, you’ll need the inmate number assigned to him by the Colorado Department of Corrections. But until Friday, the DOC had withheld that information from the news media and the public for security reasons and to prevent him from trying to profit from his notoriety.
Some counties charge thousands of dollars for public inspection of voted-ballot records
The public can inspect voted ballots in Colorado. But some counties are making it prohibitively expensive for at least one election watchdog to obtain the records he says are needed to independently audit the accuracy of voting systems.
State Integrity report gives Colorado an ‘F’ for public access to information
Colorado gets an “F” for public access to information in a Center for Public Integrity report released Monday that ranks each state on matters of transparency and accountability.
Zansberg: CSU’s ‘hard-line position’ on data thwarts public’s ability to monitor operations
Colorado State University has taken a hard-line position and has steadfastly refused to make available to The Coloradoan a database of employee salaries in the same manner in which CSU makes, maintains, and keeps those records.
Rules for judicial branch records look more like CORA, but groups ‘less than completely satisfied’
The Colorado Supreme Court quietly adopted new rules for accessing administrative records of the Colorado Judicial Branch, incorporating several recommendations made by the public and news media earlier this fall.
Supreme Court testimony: Records rules for the state judicial branch ‘do not inspire trust’
The Colorado Supreme Court heard from a state lawmaker and members of the public who are concerned about proposed regulations that will govern access to the administrative records of the Colorado Judicial Branch.