Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping Coloradans understand and use their rights of access to the records and proceedings of government and the judiciary.
Eight things to know about Colorado's new law requiring disclosure of police internal affairs records
Gov. Jared Polis’ signature on House Bill 19-1119 unclogged a major blockage in the flow of public information in Colorado by establishing a statewide presumption of openness for records about the job performance of law enforcement officers. Here are some things to know about the bill, which went into effect immediately.
Polis signs legislation that opens records on police internal affairs investigations
Major transparency legislation signed by Gov. Jared Polis will let journalists and the public obtain records that show how law enforcement agencies in Colorado police themselves.
How to get a copy of CFOIC's new guide to Colorado sunshine laws
The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition’s new 30-page “Guide to Colorado’s Open Records and Open Meetings Laws" covers what you need to know about access to information from state agencies and local governments.
Democrats seek to scrub criminal records to prevent prolonged punishment
The Colorado Independent: The bill would allow people with certain misdemeanor and felony convictions to petition a judge to have their record sealed. The judge must seal the record so long as certain conditions are met. If the district attorney objects, there would be a hearing.
In final push, Democrats rush major changes to elections and campaign finance disclosure in Colorado
The Colorado Sun: Better disclosure for campaign donations, automatic voter registration, longer hours to vote and more poll locations are a handful of the last-minute changes Democratic lawmakers want to make to Colorado election laws.
The Complete Colorado: After years of residents asking for more transparency from the Board of Weld County Commissioners, it appears the commissioners are prepared to take the giant leap into the 21st Century.
What would media literacy mean for Colorado's students?
Boulder Weekly: Cutter’s bill, if passed, would engage a consultant and form a committee of educators and media members to provide the blueprint to implement mandatory media literacy education in Colorado classrooms from kindergarten to 12th grade. It would make Colorado one of only a handful of states to require such education, even though the need, Cutter says, is widespread and urgent.
'This is a First Amendment violation': Colorado State University student newspapers thrown out, police investigating
The Denver Post: Police at Colorado State University in Fort Collins are investigating the trashing of the Rocky Mountain Collegian’s editions after editors reported an estimated 1,000 copies were removed from the student-run newspaper’s campus racks and tossed out.
The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction): Lobbyists who try to influence legislation or state agency rules are going to have to be more open about what they are doing, and who they are working for under a bill that won preliminary approval in the Colorado House.
ACLU sues for information on man who died in ICE custody in Aurora
9NEWS (Denver): The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado is suing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for information on the 64-year-old man who died after being held in ICE custody.
Editorial: More transparency needed in issue campaigns
Post Independent (Glenwood Springs): Based on the time line in notifying the City Clerk five days before the election about the committee classification change, it looks to most observers like they were gaming the system to avoid having to disclose who was giving to the pro-street-tax campaign until actual election day.
Colorado Springs commitment to transparency questioned after Amazon land purchase investigation
The Complete Colorado: Colorado Springs has a stated “commitment to the principles of open government, including transparency and civic engagement.” But according to Tim Hoiles, Publisher of Fourth Estate News Bureau, the city has a long way to go in that regard.
Gov. Polis is about to sign a Colorado net neutrality bill – one with some serious teeth
The Colorado Sun: Now that Democrats are in charge, Colorado’s second attempt at its own version of a net neutrality law passed the General Assembly and now heads to Gov. Jared Polis for his certain signature.
College Insider drops open records lawsuit against University of Northern Colorado
The Greeley Tribune: The open records dispute between College Insider and University of Northern Colorado has been dropped according to a document filed in Weld District Court.
Herald Democrat (Leadville): We are saddened by the recent action of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to eliminate commentary from meeting minutes. The minutes now will just include the motion, second and vote of each commissioner. Apparently it’s not good enough to include comments taken directly off the recording of the meeting, and it’s not good enough to include an interpretation of what was said.
Polis signs electioneering communications bill into law
Colorado Politics: A bill to tighten up the law around campaign communications that have slipped under the radar of Colorado's campaign finance system was signed into law.
Colorado Springs Independent: Hiding behind the massive bill in an apparent effort to keep us from getting the information we requested rates undemocratic and inequitable. It’s ultimately preventing you, the constituents who pay the department’s bills, from getting the information you deserve — and actually own.
The Pulitzer Prizes: The survival of local journalism is finally getting the public attention it deserves. But the question now is: Will it make a difference?
Would-be recall of school board over alleged sunshine law violations stalled by shortage of petition signatures
The Gazette (Colorado Springs): Insufficient valid signatures needed to initiate a recall election of three members of the Cripple Creek-Victor School District RE-1 Board of Education have sent former district employee Patty Waddle and her supporters back to the streets.
Protecting kids from porn? Assaulting free speech? Library critics take aim at public databases.
The Colorado Sun: Long accustomed to having their workplaces written off as musty-smelling anachronisms, a growing number of librarians lately find themselves under scrutiny, or attack.
Boulder County law enforcement eyes measure that could affect internal probes policy
Daily Camera (Boulder): A bill that will open police internal affairs files of completed investigations in Colorado to the public is headed to the governor's desk, and it could mean some policy changes for local police departments.
Leaked memo shows split opinions on possible open meetings law violation
Crested Butte News: A response from the former attorney for the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District, Tom Mullans, indicates that based on the information he was told, he believes the board violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law at its November 2018 meeting. However, the district’s current attorney believes otherwise and disagrees with that conclusion.
Opinion: Will Longmont residents be safer with police silence?
Times-Call (Longmont): I am very aware of the difficult job police officers have. We all want them to have the best possible work environment. At the same time, residents have a right to appropriate public information. Who makes the decision regarding the trade off?
DIA is mum on details after placing chief information officer on investigatory leave
The Denver Post: A senior-level official at Denver International Airport has been placed on investigatory leave, but DIA isn’t revealing why — and the official also says he hasn’t been told the reason.
Access to unredacted Amazon lease cost Colorado Springs taxpayers $16,500
Colorado Springs Independent: The city's refusal to release the name of Amazon in lease/purchase documents regarding property at the Colorado Springs Airport cost taxpayers $16,500 in attorney fees incurred by Fourth Estate News LLC.
Constituent sues Colorado Senate president for blocking him on Facebook
9NEWS (Denver): A man filed a federal lawsuit, accusing the lead Democrat in the Colorado Senate of violating his First Amendment rights by blocking him from the Senate president’s Facebook page.
Pay hike for Mesa County official approved in secret
The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction): Mesa County commissioners disagree over how a $26,000 pay raise for a top county official got approved in a process that may have violated Colorado open meetings laws.
Having your FOI request denied may leave no other option than pursuing legal action against the rejecting public agency or official. The National Freedom of Information Coalition offers financial support to litigate open government lawsuits through the Knight FOI Litigation Fund. Backed by a generous grant from the Knight Foundation, the fund helps to defray upfront costs such as filing fees, depositions, court costs and other expenses associated with legal actions. Applications may be submitted through CFOIC or directly to NFOIC.
The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on membership dues, grants and gifts. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation or becoming a member. Thank you!
