The Denver Post: There are many ways government entities avoid releasing information they’d rather the public not know, but among the most frustrating for the public and the press is when governments refuse to release data in an electronic and searchable format.

Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, would require government officials to release data, if requested, in a “structured data or searchable format.”

Most often that would mean releasing data, like salaries or expenditures, in an Excel spreadsheet or comma-separated values file which can be easily searched, sorted and analyzed.

If that’s not possible, the custodian of records would have to explain in writing why, before releasing it in an alternative format.

No longer would institutions be able to convert massive data sets into unusable printouts or PDF formats that hinder honest assessments.

We supported a similar measure that failed last year.

We think this year lawmakers have struck a balance that is hard to argue against.

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