PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Governor Rounds says he wants to be careful about changing state laws that determine which state and local government records are open to the public.

Rounds says that before changes are made he wants to know what information is involved and what people might be hurt by its release. The Republican governor says he would prefer to specifically designate what would be open.

Democratic lawmakers on the other hand say they want to rewrite the law to presume that state and local government records would be open. They then would list the kinds of documents that would be kept confidential such as personal information and business secrets.

Republican lawmakers have been working with Rounds on a proposal to change the open records law. And a task force set up by Attorney General Larry Long also has made suggestions.

(By AP Writer Chet Brokaw) (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-11-08 1505CST | save this article / add to your favorites list