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House approves GRAMA changes to add ombudsman, online training and align statutory language
Summary
House passed first substitute Senate Bill 177 to update the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA): adds required annual online training for records officers, creates a government records ombudsman, aligns statute with court intent rulings and tightens protected-record language.
The Utah House on March 8 approved first substitute Senate Bill 177 to amend the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).
Representative Dougal, the House sponsor, told members the bill "amends provisions related to, the government records access management act and the public records management act." He said key provisions require the division of archives to provide an annual online training course for records officers, authorize rulemaking by the division, create a government records ombudsman and clarify the balancing test between public interest in disclosure and nondisclosure to align statutory language with recent court rulings.
Representative Seggers asked who determines when the public interest in disclosure equals or exceeds the interest in nondisclosure; Dougal said the records officer makes the initial determination and it can be appealed through the records committee and ultimately to the courts. Representative Dawe asked whether the bill addresses new communications media; the sponsor said it leaves the status quo on that question.
After discussion and a sponsor summation, voting opened and the bill passed the House by voice and recorded tally (69 yes, 0 no) and will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for further consideration.
