Recreation records bill again stalled in Senate

RALEIGH - A bill exempting identifying information about children participating in local recreation programs from the state's public records law remains in limbo as the Senate postponed a vote on the measure.

Earlier this week, a conference committee agreed to exempt a minor child's name, address, age, date of birth, telephone number and identifying information about the child from public record. The county, city and zip code of the child would remain a public record.

Sen. Tony Foriest, D-Alamance, said that not releasing the child's name has become a "major stumbling block" for some of his fellow senators.

Supporters of the bill say they are trying to protect children participating in recreation programs from child predators as well as from marketers.

"The issue is parental control and child safety," said Rep. Alice Bordsen, D-Alamance.

The N.C. Press Association has asked that the child's name remain a public record in order to assist journalists, such as photographers seeking the name for photo caption information.

"As far as I'm concerned, the name isn't that big a deal," Foriest said.

Foriest said he's more concerned that contact information not be given out.

Foriest said the bill could be sent back to the conference committee to work out a final compromise.

The Burlington City Council requested a change in the public records law regarding the identities of children participating in sports programs after a demand was made for rosters of children participating in the city's youth sports program.

City officials were unable to withhold the information because of the state's public records law.