SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A task force working for greater public access to government records has moved closer to agreeing that records should be presumed open unless state law says otherwise.

Attorney General Larry Long who leads the group of mostly government and media members plans to make recommendations to the 2008 Legislature.

He has assigned one committee to write a list of exceptions to the openness rule and another committee to consider a process to resolve disputes over access to government records.

If a state law presumes openness of government records, Long says it needs either a list of exemptions or it needs criteria to guide governmental agencies in making those decisions.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-07-07 0931CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list