Fort Collins Coloradoan: An effort that proponents say would modernize Colorado’s open records law for the digital era hit a bump last week when the state attorney general’s office stated its opposition to the effort.

Deputy Attorney General David Blake, according to a statement read by a representative from his office at the meeting, said his office believes the proposal, in its current form, “creates more problems than it cures” and makes the Colorado Open Records Act “more complicated and vague.”

The office of Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman did not respond to email or phone messages requesting a copy of the remarks and additional comment. The quotes are from audio posted to the secretary of state’s website.

The AG office also took a shot at a mediation process in the proposed reform, stating that while it didn’t oppose a mediation process for open records disputes, the process could become too complicated. The mediation process would bring in a third party to help the requester and public agency reach an agreement on the release of records before going to court.

Under current law, a requester’s only recourse is to sue for a denied record. Open government advocates argue that requirement creates an undue burden, in time, money and force of intimidation in going against government lawyers, that effectively dissuades residents from getting information funded with public money.

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