House Committee Passes Bill to Gut Oklahoma Open Records Act

On Thursday, February 19 the House Public Safety Committee approved a bill that significantly expands fees for public records.

The new bill adds 10 exemptions that allow law enforcement agencies to redact or obscure information in the following situations:

1. "Any information specifically required by law to be kept confidential."

2. "Any medical information pertaining to a diagnosis, medication, treatment or transport of a person to any hospital, mental health facility, drug or alcohol treatment facility."

3. "Any information that could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy including, but not limited to intimate matters, sexual details or domestic violence."

4. "Any information that might identify an informant for a law enforcement agency where disclosure" of the person's identity "could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of the person."

5. Any information provided by an informant.

6. Any information about a person not arrested.

7. Any information about a suspect not arrested or cited.

8. Opinions of law enforcement officers about the case.

9. Gang involvement and affiliations.

10. "Any information related to the detection, investigation or prosecution of a crime where the release of the information may interfere with the investigation or prosecution of the crime."

According to the FOI website, the bill was railroaded through the committee and only limited questions were allowed and there was no opportunity for discussion or extended debate. For more information visit the FOI Oklahoma website. 

What do you think? Does this bill provide too many opportunities for public officials to decline releasing information?