Panel OKs overhaul of public records law

Tuesday, June 3, 1997 | 11:32 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill that overhauls the 1911 Nevada public records law defining what is open and closed to inspection was unanimously approved by the Assembly Government Affairs Committee.

Similar attempts in 1993 and 1995 to make major changes in the records law failed in the Legislature. Assemblyman Peter Ernaut, R-Reno, said, "This is the first time it seems like it's going to be solved. We have a good bill here."

Assembly Bill 289, which goes to the floor of the Assembly for a vote probably late this week or early next week, sets forth such things as what police reports and government worker files are open to the public.

It sparked a battle between government workers and the Nevada Press Association, an organization of newspapers. The association sought to have open disciplinary actions taken against state or local government workers. But the committee decided against that.

The bill updates the law, defining what computer records will be public. And the cost to copy a public document "must be reasonable and must be based on the cost that the governmental unit actually incurs for extraordinary use of its personnel or technological resources."

At present the cost for copying documents varies widely between each government, with some entities making profits on the business.

Police reports, under the bill are generally open. But the victim's name is confidential if he or she if a juvenile. Details of an ongoing criminal investigation would be confidential.

The personnel files of government workers would be open as to the name of the employee, gross pay, title and job description, the qualifications required, the address and telephone number of the worker's place of employment, the hours required to work and the date on which the employee started and ended his job.

Government workers who keep these records may not question an individual on the reason he or she may want to see a record.

Records that would be confidential include communication between an attorney and a government over strategy on a lawsuit or pending settlements.