From the Albuquerque Journal:
New Mexico State University plans to propose extensive changes to restrict the reach of the state’s public records law – amendments that transparency advocates call “troubling” and vow to fight.
A document prepared by NMSU and obtained by the Journal describes a litany of proposed exemptions to the Inspection of Public Records Act, including some that would make secret much of the public sector hiring process and certain law enforcement activities.
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“All of the proposed changes are very troubling,” said Albuquerque attorney Greg Williams, president of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
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Universities in New Mexico historically were among the most resistant to public records requests.
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In preparing its current proposal, NMSU branches out beyond university records to include new restrictions on what the public can obtain from other public agencies, including police.
The amendments include:
- An exemption to keep secret the identity of applicants to public jobs, including university and other public sector hires;
- An exemption to limit access to records revealing the identity of individuals making civil rights complaints, as well as those accused of civil rights violations but not yet found guilty;
- Various exemptions for law enforcement records “that could reasonably be expected to interfere with law enforcement proceedings” or that “would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial” or that “could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;” and
- An exemption for “trade secrets and proprietary information” provided to universities to support research activities.
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Hat Tip: @PIBuzz
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