Bill gives Nevada governor authority to deny access

A new Senate bill gives Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn authority to keep state agency documents confidential if release of the information could aid terrorists or pose a risk to public safety.

SB175, sought by the state Department of Information Technology in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, would let the governor make such decisions about "information technology" through an executive order.

It also would allow the governor to name an advisory committee on security issues. The advisory panel would be authorized to meet in closed session, and any information and material prepared for the panel also would be confidential.

The bill, introduced Thursday, will be heard by the Senate Government Affairs Committee.

Kent Lauer, executive director of the Nevada Press Association, said the bill as it is written is far too broad and vague.

"We will argue for more balance between the need to protect the public and the public's right to know what its government is doing," he said.

Terry Savage, director of the Department of Information Technology, said the proposal is intended only to protect information that could be used to aid and abet terrorist acts against the state and its facilities.

The state Homeland Security Committee, of which Savage is a member, is preparing a list of threats and vulnerabilities faced by state agencies, he said.

"That kind of list should not be available to the public," Savage said. "We don't want to give the bad guys the ammo they need to hit us with."