The Sunshine Week 2009 survey checked 20 categories of public records nationwide to see which were available free online. Colorado results:
Available free online:
— Audit reports.
— Bridge inspection and safety reports. A list of poor bridges by county is available on the Colorado Department of Transportation Web sites. Detailed reports are available on request from the department.
— Child care center inspection reports.
— Consumer complaints.
— Database of expenditures.
— Department of Transportation projects and contracts.
— Disciplinary actions against attorneys.
— Disciplinary actions against medical physicians.
— Environmental citations/violations.
— Hospital inspection reports.
— Nursing home inspection reports.
— Personal financial disclosure reports.
— Political campaign contributions and expenses.
— Statewide School test data.
— Teacher certifications.
Available online for a fee:
— Death certificates.
Not available online:
— Fictitious business name registrations (trade names). Individual trade names can be located through a database search on the secretary of state’s Web site, but no comprehensive list is available.
— Gas pump overcharge records.
— School bus inspections.
— School inspection/safety records.
