Panel backs crime file By Associated Press State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-, Madison), the committee chairman, said he was dismayed that La Follette The bill on which Clarenbach's com- mittee is working would restrict the would endorse a blanket exemption. practices of governmental A legislative council committee Friday rejected, 8-7, Atty. Gen. Bronson La Follette's request to exempt all criminal investigation dossiers from a proposed law protecting the privacy of personal records. agencies trading among themselves the infor- mation they gather on people. It also would provide procedures for correcting inaccurate information and for disclosing to individuals what files are kept on them. Before the blanket exemption was defeated, the committee turned back an Lloyd Barbee (D-Milwaukee) that would exempt only current investiga- tive files from the law. attempted compromise by State Rep. "I think the more limited exemption is reasonable," Clarenbh said, "The privacy attorney general's position, in essence, was that the end justifies the means." An example of an abuse by a law en- forcement agency of a citizen's right to privacy occurred in Madison several years ago, Clareffbach said. The exemption for criminal inves- tigation files will come up again at the final meeting of the committee Jan. 7. Also to be considered is a request that all local governments except the City of Milwaukee be exempted from the law. Another recommendation of La Follette's that the committee endorsed also troubled Clarenbach. It struck a section from the proposed bill that would have prevented information gathered contrary to the law from being introduced as evidence in court. "I was really disappointed in him," Clarenbach said of La Follette. "Maybe it was his staff that drew up the recommendations and he approved them in haste.' La Follette was attending a conference in Hawaii, and aides presented his suggestions to the com- mittee. Ivacy Stalls on 2 Issues - 9 Journal Madison Bureau A special Madison, Wis. committee developing a bill to regulate the collection and dissemination of personal information has deferred un- til January action on two key questions. The Special Committee on Privacy of Personal Records, an arm of the Legislative Council, set aside actions on requests to exempt local units of government and investiga- tory material of law enforce- ment agencies. The committee chairman, Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) had said he hoped the committee could com- plete work on the bill draft Friday so it could be intro- duced early in the 1977 legis- lative session, scheduled to begin Jan. 11. Work Delayed However, the committee reviewed a large number of amendments proposed after a public hearing on the bill in late November and failed to complete its work. The bill would apply to state and local units of gov- ernment and establish proce- dures for the collection, stor- age and dissemination of per- sonal information. In general, it tightens controls over the information and allows indi- viduals to make corrections in the data. One major amendment was suggested by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. It called for local units of gov- ernment to be given discre- tion in establishing the sys-, tem and that the law apply only to state agencies. The committee tabled the amend- ment for more study. Argument Rejected Rep. Harry Snyder (R- Oconomowoc) had argued that it would be expensive for local governments to fol- low the mandates of the bill and that it could be consid- ered an example of state har- assment of local officials. Sen. David Berger (D-Mil- waukee) contended that the most important issue was that individual rights not be harmed by misuse of personal data, and said the cost to lo- cal governments and incon- venience to local officials should not be factors. A request that school dis- tricts be excluded from provi- sions of the bill was rejected. Exemption Sought The State Justice Depart- ment had urged an exemption for data collected in connec- tion with possible prosecu- tions. Daniel Fernbach, a council attorney, said the department sought the exception only for data obtained in present in- vestigations. If the exemptio --- Panel By Associated Press backs State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-, Madison), the committee chairman, said he was dismayed that La Follette The bill on which Clarenbach's com- mittee is working would restrict the would endorse a blanket exemption. A legislative council committee Friday rejected, 8-7, Atty. Gen. Bronson La Follette's request to exempt all proposed law protecting the privacy of criminal investigation dossiers from a personal records. practices of governmental agencies crime trading among themselves the infor- mation they gather on people. It also would provide procedures for correcting inaccurate information and for disclosing to individuals what files are kept on them. Before the blanket exemption was defeated, the committee turned back an Lloyd Barbee (D-Milwaukee) that would exempt only current investiga- tive files from the law. attempted compromise by State Rep. "I think the more limited exemption is reasonable," Clarenbh said. "The file privacy final meeting of the committee Jan. 7. The exemption for criminal inves- tigation files will come up again at the Also to be considered is a request that all local governments except the City of Milwaukee be exempted from the law. La Follette's that the committee endorsed Another recommendation of attorney general's position, in essence, was that the end justifies the means." An example of an abuse by a law en- forcement agency of a citizen's right to privacy occurred in Madison several years ago, Clarenbach said. also troubled Clarenbach. It struck a section from the proposed bill that would have prevented information gathered contrary to the law from being introduced as evidence in court. "I was really disappointed in him," Clarenbach said of La Follette. "Maybe it was his staff that drew up the them in haste." recommendations and he approved La Follette was attending a conference in Hawaii, and aides presented his suggestions to the com- mittee. Stalls on 2 Issues Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. A special committee developing a bill to regulate the collection and dissemination of personal information has deferred un- til January action on two key questions. The Special Committee on Privacy of Personal Records, an arm of the Legislative Council, set aside actions on requests to exempt local units of government and investiga- tory material of law enforce- ment agencies. The committee chairman, Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) had said he hoped the committee could com- plete work on the bill draft Friday so it could be intro- duced early in the 1977 legis- lative session, scheduled to begin Jan. 11. Work Delayed However, the committee reviewed a large number of amendments proposed after a public hearing on the bill in late November and failed to complete its work. The bill would apply to state and local units of gov- ernment and establish proce- dures for the collection, stor- age and dissemination of per- sonal information. In general, it tightens controls over the information and allows indi- viduals to make corrections in the data. One major amendment was suggested by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. It called for local units of gov- ernment to be given discre- tion in establishing the sys-, tem and that the law apply only to state agencies. The committee tabled the amend- ment for more study. Argument Rejected Rep. Harry Snyder (R- Oconomowoc) had argued that it would be expensive for local governments to fol- low the mandates of the bill and that it could be consid- ered an example of state har- assment of local officials. Sen. David Berger (D-Mil- waukee) contended that the most important issue was that individual rights not be harmed by misuse of personal data, and said the cost to lo- cal governments and incon- venience to local officials should not be factors. A request that school dis- tricts be excluded from provi- sions of the bill was rejected. Exemption Sought The State Justice Depart- ment had urged an exemption for data collected in connec- tion with possible prosecu- tions. Daniel Fernbach, a council attorney, said the department sought the exception only for data obtained in present in- vestigations. If the exemption for local --- 5¢ RDINAL Inside Waupun-part II p. 4 Monday, October 18, 1976 Mini Courses Tokyo Quartet Another loss p. 6 p. 11 p. 12 The University of Wisconsin-Madison gislators ignore gay rights poll BURNS nal Staff aducted by the Gay ng all state legislative n gay rights received dison, but was ignored candidates answered e favorable to the gay in the poll question- y well," said Roger the poll project. "I responses. 9.9 different pieces of gay employment, housing, ts. Candidates were asked to state whether or not they would support such legislation if elected. Two Madison candidates favorable to gay rights, according to Durant's poll, are David Clarenbach, D-78th, and Midge Miller, D-77th. "Gay rights will be an important part of my legislative program,' " Clarenbach said. "Any discrimination on the grounds of sexual prefer- ence should be eliminated." "PROTECTION AGAINST discrimination in employment, housing and public accomadations said. will be the most important issues," Clarenbach "Gay legislation will be seriously considered in the next session," he said "Or at least the legislature will not be able to ignore it." He said the present legislative attitude towards gay rights was "negative and fearful." "Legislators are not so much against the issue, but afraid of it. They fear anything that jepordizes comment. re-election," he said "so they're not willing to "THE MARGIN OF MY victory in the primary was a lesson to politicians, it showed them that it isn't suicidal to support gay rights. I did, and still creamed a very heavy political figure in Madison. " Clarenbach said that while gay rights was a visible issue in the primary race, it has not become one in his general campaign. issues," he said. "I'm running on a program, not one or two Midge Miller, (D-77th) said in her campaign gay visible issue in the legislature. He called the poll a "head start" for a gav lobby program ---