Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that restricts access to government records.

Highlights:

• Specifies that available records that are readily reproducible by photocopy or other mechanical or electronic means do not include the following (Sec. 6):
• A voicemail message, or an electronic reproduction or textual representation of a voicemail message; 
• An instant message, or similar document, other than an email, that is electronically exchanged in the manner of a contemporaneous conversation, unless the exchange is an electron meeting; 
• A video chat, or similar transmission, whether or not the chat or transmission is saved in a retrievable form, that is electronically transmitted and has the for or content of a contemporaneous conversation, unless the video chat or transmission is an electronic meeting; or 
• A text message or similar text based document, other than an email, that is electronically exchanged by means of a phone number.

• Authorizes a governmental entity to charge a "reasonable fee" for processing requests for a record in an amount sufficient to cover the governmental entity's actual cost of providing a record, including costs of overhead and administration (Sec. 7). 

• Requires the person or party seeking disclosure of a record to establish that, by a preponderance of the evidence, the public interest favoring access outweighs the interest favoring restriction of access (Sec. 14). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that restricts access to government records.

Highlights:

• Specifies that available records that are readily reproducible by photocopy or other mechanical or electronic means do not include the following (Sec. 6):
• A voicemail message, or an electronic reproduction or textual representation of a voicemail message; 
• An instant message, or similar document, other than an email, that is electronically exchanged in the manner of a contemporaneous conversation, unless the exchange is an electron meeting; 
• A video chat, or similar transmission, whether or not the chat or transmission is saved in a retrievable form, that is electronically transmitted and has the for or content of a contemporaneous conversation, unless the video chat or transmission is an electronic meeting; or 
• A text message or similar text based document, other than an email, that is electronically exchanged by means of a phone number.

• Authorizes a governmental entity to charge a "reasonable fee" for processing requests for a record in an amount sufficient to cover the governmental entity's actual cost of providing a record, including costs of overhead and administration (Sec. 7). 

• Requires the person or party seeking disclosure of a record to establish that, by a preponderance of the evidence, the public interest favoring access outweighs the interest favoring restriction of access (Sec. 14). 

Full Bill Text