PROVIDENCE – A measure intended to speed access to arrest reports and other public records has won approval from the General Assembly.

If signed into law by Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, the legislation – 2008-S 2963Aaa, sponsored by Sen. J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich, North Kingstown and Warwick; and 2008-H 7422A, sponsored by Rep. Edith H. Ajello, D-Providence – will be the first major change in 10 years to the state’s open government, or “sunshine,” laws.

“Government can only be made better by having strong laws protecting public access to information,” Ajello said in a Saturday statement.

The act would require that all public agencies certify in writing, each year, that all employees who handle public-records requests have been trained in their responsibilities under the law.

In addition, it would require that certain basic information about any arrest be released within 24 hours. It also would require the release of narrative reports within seven business days of any arrest.

The measure’s sponsors thanked the R.I. Police Chiefs Association and its president, Warwick Police Chief Steven M. McCartney, for helping to draft the language about arrest reports. Arrest records are specifically mentioned “because they are one of the most commonly requested public records, but police departments across the state vary in the information from them that they will provide and when,” the lawmakers said.

“Openness is a fundamental part of honest government,” Lenihan said. “Especially in a day and age when computers have made information access quicker and easier, our public officials should strive to serve all citizens as quickly and fully as possible when they seek public information.”

The legislation – the subject of lengthy hearings before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees – is backed by Access/RI, a nonprofit freedom-of-information coalition that includes the Rhode Island Press Association (RIPA), the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Journalism, Common Cause, the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other public policy groups.

Additional news and information from the R.I. General Assembly is available at www.rilin.state.ri.us/News.