Kentucky online records access in the middle

A new survey for Sunshine Week puts Kentucky squarely in the middle in terms of availability of on-line records, according to The Associated Press.

The poll, released Sunday for the annual observance of open-government efforts, rates Kentucky 26th among states in a survey of 20 types of records such as death certificates, state audits and school bus inspections. Of the 20 categories, records for 11 were available online, the survey reported, tying Kentucky with four other states. Texas came in first in the poll with all 20 categories available. Mississippi was on the bottom with four.

Gov. Steve Beshear has called on-line access to state records a priority for his administration. A special task force has established a portal website, http://www.opendoor.ky.gov/, to make it easier to obtain such records.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson also has worked to make business and other records kept by his office available online. He is again pushing legislation to make statewide candidates file their campaign-finance reports electronically, so they can be immediately available for public inspection and analysis. The original bill got caught up in a House-Senate dispute and has been attached as a Senate amendment to a House bill, but it is uncertain whether the legislature will consider such "piggybacked" legislation when it returns to Frankfort next week to reconsider bills Beshear vetoes. UPDATE: House Speaker Greg Stumbo said on KET tonight that the House may consider concurrence on some House bills amended by the Senate.

Campaign-reporting bill moving for another try

A bill to require candidates for statewide office to file campaign finance reports more frequently before an election, and to file them electronically, has passed out of a Senate committee. It is expected to be passed quickly by the full Senate. Similar or identical measures passed the Senate in 2007 and 2008 but failed to receive a vote on the House floor.

Senate Bill 62 would require statewide candidates to file a financial report of their campaign receipts and expenses 60 days before an election in addition to the reports currently mandated 32 days and 15 days before an election.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson noted in a release that Kentucky has been downgraded again by the Campaign Disclosure Project in its ranking of states with the best campaign finance filings. The release said Kentucky placed in the top 10 in the ranking as recently as 2004 but has fallen to 21st place because it does not require electronic reporting.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, would also relieve broadcasters of a requirement to file reports during gubernatorial campaigns, a step the Kentucky Broadcasters Association has sought for many years. Gary White, president and CEO of KBA, explained the provision was designed to enable the Registry of Election Finance to verify campaign spending reports of candidates who accepted public financing. That law has since been repealed. For a full text of the bill, go to http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/SB62.htm.