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H.B. 118

             1     

STORAGE OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Bradley M. Daw

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill eliminates provisions regarding access to electronic records by government
             10      agencies and requires a search warrant in all cases.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    eliminates the provision that allows access to electronic records on a server longer
             14      than 180 days; and
             15          .    requires a search warrant in all cases for the contents of electronic records.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          77-23b-4, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 251
             23          77-23b-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1993, Chapter 38
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 77-23b-4 is amended to read:
             27           77-23b-4. Disclosure by a provider -- Grounds for requiring disclosure -- Court


             28      order.
             29          (1) [(a)] A government entity may only require the disclosure by a provider of
             30      electronic communication services of the contents of an electronic communication that is in
             31      electronic storage in an electronic communication system [for 180 days or less] pursuant to a
             32      warrant issued under the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure or an equivalent federal warrant.
             33          [(b) A governmental entity may require the disclosure, by a provider of electronic
             34      communication systems, of the contents of an electronic communication that has been in
             35      electronic storage in an electronic communication system for more than 180 days under
             36      Subsection (2).]
             37          [(2) (a) A governmental entity may require a provider of remote computing services to
             38      disclose the contents of any electronic communications to which Subsection (2)(a) is made
             39      applicable by Subsection (2)(b):]
             40          [(i) without required notice to the subscriber or customer, if the governmental entity
             41      obtains a warrant issued under the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure or an equivalent federal
             42      warrant; or]
             43          [(ii) with prior notice from the governmental agency to the subscriber or customer if
             44      the governmental entity:]
             45          [(A) uses an administrative subpoena authorized by a state or federal statute or a state
             46      or federal grand jury subpoena; or]
             47          [(B) obtains a court order for disclosure under Subsection (4), except delayed notice
             48      may be given under Section 77-23b-6 .]
             49          [(b)] (2) Subsection [(2)(a)] (1) applies to any electronic communication that is held or
             50      maintained on that service:
             51          [(i)] (a) on behalf of and received by means of electronic transmission from or created
             52      by means of computer processing of communications received by means of electronic
             53      transmission from a subscriber or customer of the remote computing service; and
             54          [(ii)] (b) solely for the purpose of providing storage or computer processing services to
             55      the subscriber or customer, if the provider is not authorized to access the contents of any
             56      communication for purposes of providing any services other than storage or computer
             57      processing.
             58          (3) (a) (i) Except under Subsection (3)(a)(ii), a provider of electronic communication


             59      services or remote computing services may disclose a record or other information pertaining to
             60      a subscriber to or customer of the service, not including the contents of communication
             61      covered by Subsection (1) [or (2)], to any person other than a governmental agency.
             62          (ii) A provider of electronic communication services or remote computing services
             63      shall disclose a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of the
             64      service, not including the contents of communication covered by Subsection (1) [or (2)], to a
             65      governmental entity only when the entity:
             66          (A) uses an administrative subpoena authorized by a state or federal statute or a state or
             67      federal grand jury subpoena;
             68          (B) obtains a warrant issued under the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure or an
             69      equivalent federal warrant;
             70          (C) obtains a court order for the disclosure under Subsection (4); or
             71          (D) has the consent of the subscriber or customer to the disclosure.
             72          (b) A governmental entity receiving records or information under this subsection is not
             73      required to provide notice to a subscriber or customer.
             74          (4) (a) A court order for disclosure under [Subsection (2) or (3)] this section may be
             75      issued only if the governmental entity shows there is reason to believe the contents of a wire or
             76      electronic communication, or the records or other information sought, are relevant to a
             77      legitimate law enforcement inquiry.
             78          (b) A court issuing an order under this section, on a motion made promptly by the
             79      service provider, may quash or modify the order, if the information or records requested are
             80      unusually voluminous in nature or compliance with the order otherwise would cause an undue
             81      burden on the provider.
             82          (5) A cause of action [does] may not [lie] be brought in any court against any provider
             83      of wire or electronic communications services, its officers, employees, agents, or other
             84      specified persons, for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the
             85      terms of a court order, warrant, subpoena, or certification under this chapter.
             86          Section 2. Section 77-23b-6 is amended to read:
             87           77-23b-6. Notifying subscriber or customer of court order -- Requested delay --
             88      Grounds -- Limits.
             89          (1) (a) The governmental entity acting under [Subsection] Section 77-23b-4 [(2)] may:


             90          (i) if a court order is sought, include in the application a request for an order delaying
             91      [the] notification [requirement under Subsection 77-23b-4 (2)] to the subscriber for not to
             92      exceed 90 days and, if the court determines there is reason to believe that notification of
             93      existence of the court order may have an adverse result [under Subsection (1)(b)], the court
             94      shall grant the order; or
             95          (ii) if an administrative subpoena authorized by a state or federal statute or a state or
             96      federal grand jury subpoena is obtained, delay [the] notification [required under Subsection
             97      77-23b-4 (2)] to the subscriber for not to exceed 90 days, upon the execution of a written
             98      certification of a supervisory official that there is reason to believe that the notification of the
             99      existence of the subpoena may have an adverse result [under Subsection (1)(b)].
             100          (b) An adverse result [under Subsection (1)(a)] is:
             101          (i) endangering the life or physical safety of an individual;
             102          (ii) flight from prosecution;
             103          (iii) destruction of or tampering with evidence;
             104          (iv) intimidation of potential witnesses; or
             105          (v) otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial.
             106          (c) The governmental entity shall maintain a true copy of certification under
             107      Subsection (1)(a)(ii).
             108          (d) Extensions of the delay of notification under Section 77-23b-4 of up to 90 days
             109      each, may be granted by the court upon application, or by certification by a governmental
             110      entity, but only in accordance with Subsection (2).
             111          (e) On expiration of the period of delay of notification under Subsection (1)(a) or (d),
             112      the governmental entity shall serve upon, or deliver by registered or first class mail, to the
             113      customer or subscriber a copy of the process or request together with a notice:
             114          (i) stating with reasonable specificity the nature of the law enforcement inquiry; and
             115          (ii) informing the customer or subscriber:
             116          (A) that information maintained for the customer or subscriber by the service provider
             117      named in the process or request was supplied to or requested by that governmental authority
             118      and the date the supplying or request took place;
             119          (B) that notification of the customer or subscriber was delayed;
             120          (C) which governmental entity or court made the certification or determination


             121      pursuant to which that delay was made; and
             122          (D) which provision of this chapter allows the delay.
             123          (f) As used in this subsection, "supervisory official" means the investigative agent in
             124      charge or assistant investigative agent in charge or an equivalent of an investigative agency's
             125      headquarters or regional office; a county sheriff or chief deputy sheriff, or police chief or
             126      assistant police chief; the officer in charge of an investigative task force or the assistant officer
             127      in charge; or the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, a county attorney or district
             128      attorney, a deputy county attorney or deputy district attorney, or the chief prosecuting attorney
             129      of any political subdivision of the state.
             130          (2) A governmental entity acting under Section 77-23b-4 , when not required to notify
             131      the subscriber or customer [under Subsection 77-23b-4 (2)(a)], or to the extent that it may delay
             132      notice under Subsection (1), may apply to a court for an order commanding the provider of
             133      electronic communications service or remote computing service to whom a warrant, subpoena,
             134      or court order is directed, for a period of time the court considers appropriate, to not notify any
             135      other person of the existence of the warrant, subpoena, or court order. The court shall enter the
             136      order if it determines that there is reason to believe that notification of the existence of the
             137      warrant, subpoena, or court order will result in:
             138          (a) endangering the life or physical safety of an individual;
             139          (b) flight from prosecution;
             140          (c) destruction of or tampering with evidence;
             141          (d) intimidation of potential witnesses; or
             142          (e) otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-30-12 5:44 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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