PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A proposal to shield Rhode Island climate change scientists and other university researchers from public records requests is moving forward in the Rhode Island Legislature.
The state House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the plan Tuesday. It will be the first major legislation to be voted on this year.
Scholars at the University of Rhode Island have advocated for the bill as a way of protecting them from attempts by people opposed to their research to use public records requests to interfere with or delay their work.
It would exempt researchers at state institutions from having to disclose preliminary drafts, notes and working papers. Certain emails are also likely to be exempt.
Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat, sponsored the bill.
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