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Second Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 98­0493.01 JAG HOUSE BILL 98­1136

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVE Zimmerman

STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION MAINTAINED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.)

Requires the secretary of state to provide access through the internet or a successor computer on­line system to public information related to campaign finance and the public official and lobbyist filings required by the "Colorado Sunshine Act of 1972" and maintained by the secretary of state. Authorizes the secretary of state to determine the rates to be charged and procedures for such access. Requires the secretary of state to charge rates that offset the costs to the secretary of state.

Requires the secretary of state to coordinate such computer access with existing requirements for the establishment of a telecommunications network that allows electronic access to certain election campaign reports filed with the secretary of state.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  Article 21 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:

24­21­111.  Electronic access to information ­ internet system. (1)  NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2000, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH THE INTERNET SYSTEM OR A SUCCESSOR COMPUTER ON­LINE SYSTEM TO THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT IS OTHERWISE AVAILABLE FOR PHYSICAL INSPECTION AND COPYING BY PERSONS AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE:

(a)  INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE PURSUANT TO THE "FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES ACT", ARTICLE 45 OF TITLE 1, C.R.S.;

(b)  INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LOBBYISTS PURSUANT TO PARTS 2 AND 3 OF THE "COLORADO SUNSHINE ACT OF 1972", ARTICLE 6 OF TITLE 24, C.R.S.

(2)  THE RATES TO BE CHARGED AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCH ACCESS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THE RATES TO BE CHARGED SHALL BE SET AT A LEVEL THAT OFFSETS THE COSTS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

SECTION 2.  1­45­109 (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

1­45­109.  Filing ­ where to file ­ timeliness. (5) (a)  The secretary of state shall establish, operate, and maintain such computer services as are necessary to maintain a telecommunications network that allows electronic read­only access to persons who wish to review the reports filed with the secretary of state's office pursuant to this article. The rates to be charged and procedures for such access shall be determined by the secretary of state. The rates to be charged shall be set at a level which THAT offsets the costs to the secretary of state.

(b)  THE ELECTRONIC ACCESS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (a) OF THIS SUBSECTION (5) SHALL BE IN COORDINATION WITH, AND NOT IN DUPLICATION OF, THE INTERNET ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 24­21­111, C.R.S.

SECTION 3.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.