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Open Records Act Changes Going to Oklahoma House

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A state House committee approves increased restrictions to the state’s Open Records Act.

House Bill 1361 exempts police audio and video recordings as records. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said he’s afraid witnesses could be identified when video is shown by a news outlet.

"And I'll tell you, in this very violent society that we live in now, there's not a problem with suspects approaching witnesses and perpetrating violence on them to keep them from cooperating," Prater told the House Public Safety Committee.

Prater also said under current law, recordings must be released too quickly.

"Before an investigation has really started, before there's been any opportunities to secure witnesses and protect witnesses and protect victims, and to protect the investigations themselves," Prater said.

The committee also approved an amendment allowing public entities to deny any requests they find cause "excessive disruption." That amendment, from committee chair Mike Christian, was not discussed.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.