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S.B. 137 Enrolled

                 

GOVERNMENT RECORDS ACCESS &

                 
MANAGEMENT ACT - TECHNICAL

                 
REVISIONS

                 
2002 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Alicia L. Suazo

                  This act modifies the Government Records Access and Management Act and references to
                  that act to make technical revisions. This act provides an effective date.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      31A-31-104, as enacted by Chapter 243, Laws of Utah 1994
                      53-5-708, as last amended by Chapters 12 and 54, Laws of Utah 1994
                      63-2-301 (Effective 07/01/02), as last amended by Chapter 8, Laws of Utah 2001, First
                  Special Session
                      63-2-301 (Superseded 07/01/02), as last amended by Chapter 48, Laws of Utah 1999
                      63-2-903, as last amended by Chapter 280, Laws of Utah 1992
                      77-38-3, as last amended by Chapter 103, Laws of Utah 1997
                      78-2a-6, as enacted by Chapter 321, Laws of Utah 1999
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 31A-31-104 is amended to read:
                       31A-31-104. Disclosure of information.
                      (1) (a) Subject to Subsection (2), upon written request by an insurer to an authorized
                  agency, the authorized agency may release to the insurer information or evidence that is relevant
                  to any suspected insurance fraud.
                      (b) Upon written request by an authorized agency to an insurer, the insurer or an agent
                  authorized by the insurer to act on the insurer's behalf shall release to the authorized agency
                  information or evidence that is relevant to any suspected insurance fraud.
                      (2) (a) Any information or evidence furnished to an authorized agency under this section
                  may be classified as a protected record in accordance with Subsection 63-2-304 [(8) of the


                  Government Records Access and Management Act] (9).
                      (b) Any information or evidence furnished to an insurer under this section is not subject to
                  discovery in a civil proceeding unless, after reasonable notice to any insurer, agent, or any authorized
                  agency that has an interest in the information and subsequent hearing, a court determines that the
                  public interest and any ongoing criminal investigation will not be jeopardized by the disclosure.
                      (c) An insurer shall report to the department agency terminations based upon a violation of
                  this chapter.
                      Section 2. Section 53-5-708 is amended to read:
                       53-5-708. Permit -- Names private.
                      (1) When any permit is issued, a record shall be maintained in the office of the licensing
                  authority. Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection 63-2-301 (1)(b), the names, addresses,
                  telephone numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of persons receiving permits are
                  protected records under Subsection 63-2-304 [(9)] (10).
                      (2) Copies of each permit issued shall be filed immediately by the licensing authority with
                  the division.
                      Section 3. Section 63-2-301 (Effective 07/01/02) is amended to read:
                       63-2-301 (Effective 07/01/02). Records that must be disclosed.
                      (1) The following records are public except to the extent they contain information expressly
                  permitted to be treated confidentially under the provisions of Subsections 63-2-201 (3)(b) and (6)(a):
                      (a) laws;
                      (b) names, gender, gross compensation, job titles, job descriptions, business addresses,
                  business telephone numbers, number of hours worked per pay period, dates of employment, and
                  relevant education, previous employment, and similar job qualifications of the governmental entity's
                  former and present employees and officers excluding:
                      (i) undercover law enforcement personnel; and
                      (ii) investigative personnel if disclosure could reasonably be expected to impair the
                  effectiveness of investigations or endanger any individual's safety;
                      (c) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, and orders that are made

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                  by a governmental entity in an administrative, adjudicative, or judicial proceeding except that if the
                  proceedings were properly closed to the public, the opinion and order may be withheld to the extent
                  that they contain information that is private, controlled, or protected;
                      (d) final interpretations of statutes or rules by a governmental entity unless classified as
                  protected as provided in Subsections 63-2-304 [(15),] (16), [and] (17), and (18);
                      (e) information contained in or compiled from a transcript, minutes, or report of the open
                  portions of a meeting of a governmental entity as provided by Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public
                  Meetings, including the records of all votes of each member of the governmental entity;
                      (f) judicial records unless a court orders the records to be restricted under the rules of civil
                  or criminal procedure or unless the records are private under this chapter;
                      (g) records filed with or maintained by county recorders, clerks, treasurers, surveyors, zoning
                  commissions, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the School and Institutional Trust                   Lands
                  Administration, the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, the Division of Water Rights, or other
                  governmental entities that give public notice of:
                      (i) titles or encumbrances to real property;
                      (ii) restrictions on the use of real property;
                      (iii) the capacity of persons to take or convey title to real property; or
                      (iv) tax status for real and personal property;
                      (h) records of the Department of Commerce that evidence incorporations, mergers, name
                  changes, and uniform commercial code filings;
                      (i) data on individuals that would otherwise be private under this chapter if the individual
                  who is the subject of the record has given the governmental entity written permission to make the
                  records available to the public;
                      (j) documentation of the compensation that a governmental entity pays to a contractor or
                  private provider;
                      (k) summary data; and
                      (l) voter registration records, including an individual's voting history, except for those parts
                  of the record that are classified as private in Subsection 63-2-302 (1)(a)(viii).

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                      (2) The following records are normally public, but to the extent that a record is expressly
                  exempt from disclosure, access may be restricted under Subsection 63-2-201 (3)(b), Section
                  63-2-302 , 63-2-303 , or 63-2-304 :
                      (a) administrative staff manuals, instructions to staff, and statements of policy;
                      (b) records documenting a contractor's or private provider's compliance with the terms of
                  a contract with a governmental entity;
                      (c) records documenting the services provided by a contractor or a private provider to the
                  extent the records would be public if prepared by the governmental entity;
                      (d) contracts entered into by a governmental entity;
                      (e) any account, voucher, or contract that deals with the receipt or expenditure of funds by
                  a governmental entity;
                      (f) records relating to government assistance or incentives publicly disclosed, contracted for,
                  or given by a governmental entity, encouraging a person to expand or relocate a business in Utah,
                  except as provided in Subsection 63-2-304 [(34)] (35);
                      (g) chronological logs and initial contact reports;
                      (h) correspondence by and with a governmental entity in which the governmental entity
                  determines or states an opinion upon the rights of the state, a political subdivision, the public, or any
                  person;
                      (i) empirical data contained in drafts if:
                      (i) the empirical data is not reasonably available to the requester elsewhere in similar form;
                  and
                      (ii) the governmental entity is given a reasonable opportunity to correct any errors or make
                  nonsubstantive changes before release;
                      (j) drafts that are circulated to anyone other than:
                      (i) a governmental entity;
                      (ii) a political subdivision;
                      (iii) a federal agency if the governmental entity and the federal agency are jointly responsible
                  for implementation of a program or project that has been legislatively approved;

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                      (iv) a government-managed corporation; or
                      (v) a contractor or private provider;
                      (k) drafts that have never been finalized but were relied upon by the governmental entity in
                  carrying out action or policy;
                      (l) original data in a computer program if the governmental entity chooses not to disclose
                  the program;
                      (m) arrest warrants after issuance, except that, for good cause, a court may order restricted
                  access to arrest warrants prior to service;
                      (n) search warrants after execution and filing of the return, except that a court, for good
                  cause, may order restricted access to search warrants prior to trial;
                      (o) records that would disclose information relating to formal charges or disciplinary actions
                  against a past or present governmental entity employee if:
                      (i) the disciplinary action has been completed and all time periods for administrative appeal
                  have expired; and
                      (ii) the charges on which the disciplinary action was based were sustained;
                      (p) records maintained by the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the School and
                  Institutional Trust Lands Administration, or the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining that evidence
                  mineral production on government lands;
                      (q) final audit reports;
                      (r) occupational and professional licenses;
                      (s) business licenses; and
                      (t) a notice of violation, a notice of agency action under Section 63-46b-3 , or similar records
                  used to initiate proceedings for discipline or sanctions against persons regulated by a governmental
                  entity, but not including records that initiate employee discipline.
                      (3) The list of public records in this section is not exhaustive and should not be used to limit
                  access to records.
                      Section 4. Section 63-2-301 (Superseded 07/01/02) is amended to read:
                       63-2-301 (Superseded 07/01/02). Records that must be disclosed.

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                      (1) The following records are public except to the extent they contain information expressly
                  permitted to be treated confidentially under the provisions of Subsections 63-2-201 (3)(b) and (6)(a):
                      (a) laws;
                      (b) names, gender, gross compensation, job titles, job descriptions, business addresses,
                  business telephone numbers, number of hours worked per pay period, dates of employment, and
                  relevant education, previous employment, and similar job qualifications of the governmental entity's
                  former and present employees and officers excluding:
                      (i) undercover law enforcement personnel; and
                      (ii) investigative personnel if disclosure could reasonably be expected to impair the
                  effectiveness of investigations or endanger any individual's safety;
                      (c) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, and orders that are made
                  by a governmental entity in an administrative, adjudicative, or judicial proceeding except that if the
                  proceedings were properly closed to the public, the opinion and order may be withheld to the extent
                  that they contain information that is private, controlled, or protected;
                      (d) final interpretations of statutes or rules by a governmental entity unless classified as
                  protected as provided in Subsections 63-2-304 [(15),] (16), [and] (17), and (18);
                      (e) information contained in or compiled from a transcript, minutes, or report of the open
                  portions of a meeting of a governmental entity as provided by Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public
                  Meetings, including the records of all votes of each member of the governmental entity;
                      (f) judicial records unless a court orders the records to be restricted under the rules of civil
                  or criminal procedure or unless the records are private under this chapter;
                      (g) records filed with or maintained by county recorders, clerks, treasurers, surveyors, zoning
                  commissions, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the School and Institutional Trust                   Lands
                  Administration, the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, the Division of Water Rights, or other
                  governmental entities that give public notice of:
                      (i) titles or encumbrances to real property;
                      (ii) restrictions on the use of real property;
                      (iii) the capacity of persons to take or convey title to real property; or

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                      (iv) tax status for real and personal property;
                      (h) records of the Department of Commerce that evidence incorporations, mergers, name
                  changes, and uniform commercial code filings;
                      (i) data on individuals that would otherwise be private under this chapter if the individual
                  who is the subject of the record has given the governmental entity written permission to make the
                  records available to the public;
                      (j) documentation of the compensation that a governmental entity pays to a contractor or
                  private provider;
                      (k) summary data; and
                      (l) voter registration records, including an individual's voting history, except for those parts
                  of the record that are classified as private in Subsection 63-2-302 (1)(h).
                      (2) The following records are normally public, but to the extent that a record is expressly
                  exempt from disclosure, access may be restricted under Subsection 63-2-201 (3)(b), Section
                  63-2-302 , 63-2-303 , or 63-2-304 :
                      (a) administrative staff manuals, instructions to staff, and statements of policy;
                      (b) records documenting a contractor's or private provider's compliance with the terms of
                  a contract with a governmental entity;
                      (c) records documenting the services provided by a contractor or a private provider to the
                  extent the records would be public if prepared by the governmental entity;
                      (d) contracts entered into by a governmental entity;
                      (e) any account, voucher, or contract that deals with the receipt or expenditure of funds by
                  a governmental entity;
                      (f) records relating to government assistance or incentives publicly disclosed, contracted for,
                  or given by a governmental entity, encouraging a person to expand or relocate a business in Utah,
                  except as provided in Subsection 63-2-304 [(34)] (35);
                      (g) chronological logs and initial contact reports;
                      (h) correspondence by and with a governmental entity in which the governmental entity
                  determines or states an opinion upon the rights of the state, a political subdivision, the public, or any

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                  person;
                      (i) empirical data contained in drafts if:
                      (i) the empirical data is not reasonably available to the requester elsewhere in similar form;
                  and
                      (ii) the governmental entity is given a reasonable opportunity to correct any errors or make
                  nonsubstantive changes before release;
                      (j) drafts that are circulated to anyone other than:
                      (i) a governmental entity;
                      (ii) a political subdivision;
                      (iii) a federal agency if the governmental entity and the federal agency are jointly responsible
                  for implementation of a program or project that has been legislatively approved;
                      (iv) a government-managed corporation; or
                      (v) a contractor or private provider;
                      (k) drafts that have never been finalized but were relied upon by the governmental entity in
                  carrying out action or policy;
                      (l) original data in a computer program if the governmental entity chooses not to disclose
                  the program;
                      (m) arrest warrants after issuance, except that, for good cause, a court may order restricted
                  access to arrest warrants prior to service;
                      (n) search warrants after execution and filing of the return, except that a court, for good
                  cause, may order restricted access to search warrants prior to trial;
                      (o) records that would disclose information relating to formal charges or disciplinary actions
                  against a past or present governmental entity employee if:
                      (i) the disciplinary action has been completed and all time periods for administrative appeal
                  have expired; and
                      (ii) the charges on which the disciplinary action was based were sustained;
                      (p) records maintained by the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the School and
                  Institutional Trust Lands Administration, or the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining that evidence

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                  mineral production on government lands;
                      (q) final audit reports;
                      (r) occupational and professional licenses;
                      (s) business licenses; and
                      (t) a notice of violation, a notice of agency action under Section 63-46b-3 , or similar records
                  used to initiate proceedings for discipline or sanctions against persons regulated by a governmental
                  entity, but not including records that initiate employee discipline.
                      (3) The list of public records in this section is not exhaustive and should not be used to limit
                  access to records.
                      Section 5. Section 63-2-903 is amended to read:
                       63-2-903. Duties of governmental entities.
                      The chief administrative officer of each governmental entity shall:
                      (1) establish and maintain an active, continuing program for the economical and efficient
                  management of the governmental entity's records as provided by this chapter;
                      (2) appoint one or more records officers who will be trained to work with the state archives
                  in the care, maintenance, scheduling, disposal, classification, designation, access, and preservation
                  of records;
                      (3) make and maintain adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions,
                  policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the governmental entity designed to
                  furnish information to protect the legal and financial rights of persons directly affected by the entity's
                  activities;
                      (4) submit to the state archivist proposed schedules of records for final approval by the
                  records committee;
                      (5) cooperate with the state archivist in conducting surveys made by the state archivist;
                      (6) comply with rules issued by the Department of Administrative Services as provided by
                  Section 63-2-904 ;
                      (7) report to the state archives the designation of record series that it maintains;
                      (8) report to the state archives the classification of each record series that is classified; and

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                      (9) establish and report to the state archives retention schedules for objects that the
                  governmental entity determines are not records under Subsection [ 63-2-301 ] 63-2-103 (18), but that
                  have historical or evidentiary value.
                      Section 6. Section 77-38-3 is amended to read:
                       77-38-3. Notification to victims -- Initial notice, election to receive subsequent notices
                  -- Form of notice -- Protected victim information.
                      (1) Within seven days of the filing of felony criminal charges against a defendant, the
                  prosecuting agency shall provide an initial notice to reasonably identifiable and locatable victims of
                  the crime contained in the charges, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
                      (2) The initial notice to the victim of a crime shall provide information about electing to
                  receive notice of subsequent important criminal justice hearings listed in Subsections 77-38-2 (5)(a)
                  through (f) and rights under this chapter.
                      (3) The prosecuting agency shall provide notice to a victim of a crime for the important
                  criminal justice hearings, provided in Subsections 77-38-2 (5)(a) through (f) which the victim has
                  requested.
                      (4) (a) The responsible prosecuting agency may provide initial and subsequent notices in any
                  reasonable manner, including telephonically, electronically, orally, or by means of a letter or form
                  prepared for this purpose.
                      (b) In the event of an unforeseen important criminal justice hearing, listed in Subsections
                  77-38-2 (5)(a) through (f) for which a victim has requested notice, a good faith attempt to contact the
                  victim by telephone shall be considered sufficient notice, provided that the prosecuting agency
                  subsequently notifies the victim of the result of the proceeding.
                      (5) (a) The court shall take reasonable measures to ensure that its scheduling practices for
                  the proceedings provided in Subsections 77-38-2 (5)(a) through (f) permit an opportunity for victims
                  of crimes to be notified.
                      (b) The court shall also consider whether any notification system that it might use to provide
                  notice of judicial proceedings to defendants could be used to provide notice of those same
                  proceedings to victims of crimes.

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                      (6) A defendant or, if it is the moving party, Adult Probation and Parole, shall give notice
                  to the responsible prosecuting agency of any motion for modification of any determination made at
                  any of the important criminal justice hearings provided in Subsections 77-38-2 (5)(a) through (f) in
                  advance of any requested court hearing or action so that the prosecuting agency may comply with
                  its notification obligation.
                      (7) (a) Notice to a victim of a crime shall be provided by the Board of Pardons and Parole
                  for the important criminal justice hearing provided in Subsection 77-38-2 (5)(g).
                      (b) The board may provide notice in any reasonable manner, including telephonically,
                  electronically, orally, or by means of a letter or form prepared for this purpose.
                      (8) Prosecuting agencies and the Board of Pardons and Parole are required to give notice to
                  a victim of a crime for the proceedings provided in Subsections 77-38-2 (5)(a) through (f) only where
                  the victim has responded to the initial notice, requested notice of subsequent proceedings, and
                  provided a current address and telephone number if applicable.
                      (9) (a) Law enforcement and criminal justice agencies shall refer any requests for notice or
                  information about crime victim rights from victims to the responsible prosecuting agency.
                      (b) In a case in which the Board of Pardons and Parole is involved, the responsible
                  prosecuting agency shall forward any request for notice that it has received from a victim to the
                  Board of Pardons and Parole.
                      (10) In all cases where the number of victims exceeds ten, the responsible prosecuting
                  agency may send any notices required under this chapter in its discretion to a representative sample
                  of the victims.
                      (11) (a) A victim's address, telephone number, and victim impact statement maintained by
                  a peace officer, prosecuting agency, Youth Parole Authority, Division of Youth Corrections,
                  Department of Corrections, and Board of Pardons and Parole, for purposes of providing notice under
                  this section, is classified as protected as provided in Subsection 63-2-304 [(9)] (10).
                      (b) The victim's address, telephone number, and victim impact statement is available only
                  to the following persons or entities in the performance of their duties:
                      (i) a law enforcement agency, including the prosecuting agency;

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                      (ii) a victims' right committee as provided in Section 77-37-5 ;
                      (iii) a governmentally sponsored victim or witness program;
                      (iv) the Department of Corrections;
                      (v) Office of Crime Victims' Reparations;
                      (vi) Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; and
                      (vii) the Board of Pardons and Parole.
                      (12) The notice provisions as provided in this section do not apply to misdemeanors as
                  provided in Section 77-38-5 and to important juvenile justice hearings as provided in Section
                  77-38-2 .
                      Section 7. Section 78-2a-6 is amended to read:
                       78-2a-6. Appellate Mediation Office -- Protected records and information --
                  Governmental immunity.
                      (1) Unless a more restrictive rule of court is adopted pursuant to Subsection 63-2-201 (3)(b),
                  information and records relating to any matter on appeal received or generated by the Chief
                  Appellate Mediator or other staff of the Appellate Mediation Office as a result of any party's
                  participation or lack of participation in the settlement program shall be maintained as protected
                  records pursuant to Subsections 63-2-304 (16), (17), (18), and (33).
                      (2) In addition to the access restrictions on protected records provided in Section 63-2-202 ,
                  the information and records may not be disclosed to judges, staff, or employees of any court of this
                  state.
                      (3) The Chief Appellate Mediator may disclose statistical and other demographic
                  information as may be necessary and useful to report on the status and to allow supervision and
                  oversight of the Appellate Mediation Office.
                      (4) When acting as mediators, the Chief Appellate Mediator and other professional staff of
                  the Appellate Mediation Office shall be immune from liability pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 30, Utah
                  Governmental Immunity Act.
                      (5) Pursuant to Utah Constitution, Article VIII, Section 4, the Supreme Court may exercise
                  overall supervision of the Appellate Mediation Office as part of the appellate process.

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                      Section 8. Effective date.
                      This act takes effect on May 6, 2002, except that the amendments to Section 63-2-301
                  (Effective 07/01/02) take effect on July 1, 2002.

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