California Senate committee passes public records amendment

From KTVU.com:  A state Senate committee on Tuesday advanced a swiftly drafted constitutional amendment that would affirm the public's right to inspect documents held by local governments and clarifying that those agencies — not the state — should pay for making their records available.

The amendment passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a 7-0 vote.

Representatives of local agencies told the panel they are concerned about the potential costs of complying with state public records requirements that could be expanded in the future.

Those requirements do not apply to the Legislature, which is subject to a different set of open records rules, said Dan Carrigg of the League of California Cities.