A bill that would allow public utilities to keep blueprints and other documents secret from the public has passed is first hurdle in the Idaho Legislature.
The House State Affairs Committee introduced the measure Friday.
The proposal would exempt the public from seeing emergency response plans, computer and telecommunication systems and building blueprints.
Will Hart, the Executive Director of the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Company says under the current statute any member of the public could obtain building blueprints. He says this measure is necessary to prevent the information from being exploited by those seeking to damage the utility's infrastructure.
He told the committee the current law only protects people and public safety, but fails to protect property.