Bid to alter GRAMA raises many questions
Senators and media ponder change to records access law
Those concerns almost derailed a bill intended to make changes to the Government Records Access and Management Act, SB15, in the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee Wednesday. Although the bill passed 5-1, almost all of the Republican senators supporting it said they would probably not support it on the Senate floor without some amendments.
A primary concern was that the changes would allow the publication of records, such as in an agency annual report or budget, to count as a GRAMA release. Instead of producing the records for every subsequent request, the government agency could simply refer the public to the publication.
Sen. David Thomas, R-South Weber, the bill's sponsor, said referring people to a publication would reduce the number of "duplicate" searches for information. Ideally, it would reduce the workload for government and the wait time for the public, since they could find that information immediately.
"The information is still readily available," Thomas said. "The goal of the task force was to make this as efficient as possible, and if it's in a publication, that's the most efficient method."
But other committee members said the intent of GRAMA is to make that available information accessible to the public.
It could also prove to be a significant burden for people who live in rural areas, Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, said.
"When you live in an area that is 300 miles from the Capitol, to run to downtown (Salt Lake City) and get something from the state school board is a bit difficult," Hickman said. "Maybe we should put the burden back on the agency to gather that information, instead of making the person drive all the way to Salt Lake for the information."
The rule change could prove especially burdensome for the media, since many government agencies already look for ways to delay their access to public records, said Tim Smith, an attorney representing the Utah Media Coalition, a group of Utah daily and weekly newspapers, including the Deseret Morning News.
"It doesn't make it more efficient for the person requesting the information," Smith said. "It makes it more efficient for the government agency, who can send them somewhere else to get the information. . . . If there is an opportunity to abuse it, we usually see it abused."
Smith was also opposed to a change in the appeals process that would require GRAMA appeals to go to the State Records Committee before being appealed to district court. That could lengthen the time to get records by weeks or even months.
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com
Comments
- 'Idol' judge DioGuardi gets married 5:29 p.m.
- 'Three's Company' actress gets DUI 5:28 p.m.
- Willis aims to rebuild Idaho lodge 5:26 p.m.
- Utah Co. commuter line progresses 5:25 p.m.
- Student sentenced in alcohol death 5:13 p.m.
- Movsisyan signs Danish deal 4:49 p.m.
- Utah fugitive pleads guilty in Fla. 4:28 p.m.
- Police suspect suicide at park 3:42 p.m.
- Hatch: BCS too arrogant to change 3:41 p.m.
- 80K welcome Ronaldo to Madrid 3:20 p.m.
- Don't listen to marriage cynics
126 - Palin resigning as governor
112 - Lack of Obama photos concerning
107 - Palin's and Romney's roles in 2012?
103 - Letters: Palin mistreated
96 - Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
94 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
92 - Utah leaner in too-fat country
91 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
87 - Jazz plan to re-sign Millsap
82
The media has been inordinately good to President Obama so far. That...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
Ummm. . . In what way was Sarah Palin abused? Really, I don't get it. She...
As other have said more eloquently than I can, if you serve your spouse and...
Nice article, I hope he does well on the field.
Had to go to work to help pay for Washington spending.... Now, reading...
Why doesn't our blow hard senator introduce legislation that bans any NCAA...
Define harmless | 9:57 a.m. July 6, 2009 Awesome comment dude...Awesome!!!
"No good deed goes unpunished." How very sad.
@RedShirt | 8:03 a.m. . “What we really need is a return to our...
I though Lance was going to be on the support team? Doesn't that mean that he...
what about administrators | 3:22 p.m. July 6, 2009 Unless you are in the...




You can be the first to comment on this story.