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House requires greater openness from Salt Lake Olympic committee; HB 285 passes unanimously
Summary
The Utah House passed House Bill 285 70–0 to require the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee to adopt open‑meetings practices and records procedures consistent with GRAMA principles when public funds or facilities are used; sponsors cited past opacity in Olympic finances and said SLOC cooperated with the bill.
Representative Jones introduced House Bill 285 to enhance public oversight of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOC) by making open meetings and records procedures a condition of receiving public funds and using public facilities. Jones said that the state lacked information during earlier Olympic activity — "We looked at budgets, but we didn't see a line item for bribery" — and argued that statutes should ensure public oversight going forward.
The floor considered amendments that were coordinated with SLOC and the Office of Legislative Counsel; Representative Jones explained the bill would require open meetings for the full SLOC Board, its management committee and standing committees with 24‑hour notice unless statutorily permissible reasons for closure apply. The measure also asks SLOC to develop records procedures consistent with the Government Records and Management Act (GRAMA) spirit, while acknowledging that GRAMA did not literally apply to a private organizing committee.
Supporters stressed the need for public assurance after previously disclosed problems; Representative Jones read intent language onto the journal clarifying that the bill "requires only that the entity establish procedures that are consistent with the Government Records Access and Management Act" and that it does not subject non‑governmental public sports entities to title 63, chapter 2 of state code.
Representative Jones said SLOC had agreed to the approach and that the intent language had been worked out with SLOC; the House passed HB 285 70–0 and the bill will be referred to the Senate for further action.
Next steps: Intent language was ordered spread on the Journal and the bill was transmitted to the Senate.
