House approves public records exemption bill

BOISE – The Idaho House has approved a bill that would allow public utilities to keep blueprints and other documents secret from the public.

HB 447 passed the body in a 63-4 vote Wednesday. It must still clear the Senate floor before reaching Gov. ButchOtter’s desk for his signature.

The measure would exempt the public from seeing emergency response plans, computer and telecommunication systems and building blueprints.

Republican Rep. Don Cheatham of Post Falls says the bill would add an extra level of security and is necessary to protect the public from terrorist attacks.

He told the body there is no reason the public would need to access such records.