Topeka ? Representatives of news organizations urged a legislative committee Friday to eliminate exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act.

The Special Legislative Committee on Local Government is examining dozens of exemptions to the records law to determine whether any of them should be retained. The act itself contains 46 exceptions, but 324 other statutes have exceptions as well.

Michael Merriam, a Topeka attorney whose clients include newspapers, broadcasters and other news gatherers, suggested that the committee should invite supporters of exceptions to defend them before the committee, rather than having opponents seek their removal.

Wichita Eagle editor Rick Thames called the committee’s task one of the thorniest likely to face the Legislature.

He added, “It may also be the healthiest process to unfold in the Capitol in decades.”

Unless the Legislature passes a measure to continue the open records exceptions, they will expire on July 1, 2005.

Sen. Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, suggested the committee first consider exceptions that obviously should be repealed, then move on to those that will be more difficult.

The panel’s chairman, Rep. Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg, and other committee members plan to meet with staff to decide how to deal with the scores of exemptions.

Vickrey said earlier he would prefer to see groups of exemptions assigned to various committees during the 2004 legislative session.