Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 338 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Chavez-Houck, R.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• modifies duties of the State Records Committee;
• authorizes the state auditor to submit to the State Records Committee a dispute about the public release of a record in conjunction with the release of an audit report; and
• provides for judicial review of a State Records Committee determination of a record dispute submitted by the state auditor.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

RESOLVING GOVERNMENT RECORD DISPUTES
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck
Senate Sponsor: 
Howard A. Stephenson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to a process for resolving disputes concerning
government records.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ modifies duties of the State Records Committee;
▸ authorizes the state auditor to submit to the State Records Committee a dispute
about the public release of a record in conjunction with the release of an audit
report; and
▸ provides for judicial review of a State Records Committee determination of a record
dispute submitted by the state auditor.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63G-2-502
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 340
67-3-1
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 377
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63G-2-502
 is amended to read:
63G-2-502.
State Records Committee -- Duties.
(1) The records committee shall:
(a) meet at least once every three months;
(b) review and approve schedules for the retention and disposal of records;
(c) hear appeals from determinations of access as provided by Section 
63G-2-403
;
[
and
]
(d) determine disputes submitted by the state auditor under Subsection 
67-3-1
(15)(d);
and
[
(d)
] 
(e)
 appoint a chairman from among its members.
(2) The records committee may:
(a) make rules to govern its own proceedings as provided by Title 63G, Chapter 3,
Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
(b) by order, after notice and hearing, reassign classification and designation for any
record series by a governmental entity if the governmental entity's classification or designation
is inconsistent with this chapter.
(3) The records committee shall annually appoint an executive secretary to the records
committee. The executive secretary may not serve as a voting member of the committee.
(4) Five members of the records committee are a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(5) The state archives shall provide staff and support services for the records
committee.
(6) If the records committee reassigns the classification or designation of a record or
record series under Subsection (2)(b), any affected governmental entity or any other interested
person may appeal the reclassification or redesignation to the district court. The district court
shall hear the matter de novo.
(7) The Office of the Attorney General shall provide counsel to the records committee
and shall review proposed retention schedules.
Section 2. Section 
67-3-1
 is amended to read:
67-3-1.
Functions and duties.
(1) (a) The state auditor is the auditor of public accounts and is independent of any
executive or administrative officers of the state.
(b) The state auditor is not limited in the selection of personnel or in the determination
of the reasonable and necessary expenses of the state auditor's office.
(2) The state auditor shall examine and certify annually in respect to each fiscal year,
financial statements showing:
(a) the condition of the state's finances;
(b) the revenues received or accrued;
(c) expenditures paid or accrued;
(d) the amount of unexpended or unencumbered balances of the appropriations to the
agencies, departments, divisions, commissions, and institutions; and
(e) the cash balances of the funds in the custody of the state treasurer.
(3) (a) The state auditor shall:
(i) audit each permanent fund, each special fund, the General Fund, and the accounts of
any department of state government or any independent agency or public corporation as the law
requires, as the auditor determines is necessary, or upon request of the governor or the
Legislature;
(ii) perform the audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and
other auditing procedures as promulgated by recognized authoritative bodies;
(iii) as the auditor determines is necessary, conduct the audits to determine:
(A) honesty and integrity in fiscal affairs;
(B) accuracy and reliability of financial statements;
(C) effectiveness and adequacy of financial controls; and
(D) compliance with the law.
(b) If any state entity receives federal funding, the state auditor shall ensure that the
audit is performed in accordance with federal audit requirements.
(c) (i) The costs of the federal compliance portion of the audit may be paid from an
appropriation to the state auditor from the General Fund.
(ii) If an appropriation is not provided, or if the federal government does not
specifically provide for payment of audit costs, the costs of the federal compliance portions of
the audit shall be allocated on the basis of the percentage that each state entity's federal funding
bears to the total federal funds received by the state.
(iii) The allocation shall be adjusted to reflect any reduced audit time required to audit
funds passed through the state to local governments and to reflect any reduction in audit time
obtained through the use of internal auditors working under the direction of the state auditor.
(4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the state auditor shall, in addition to
financial audits, and as the auditor determines is necessary, conduct performance and special
purpose audits, examinations, and reviews of any entity that receives public funds, including a
determination of any or all of the following:
(i) the honesty and integrity of all its fiscal affairs;
(ii) whether or not its administrators have faithfully complied with legislative intent;
(iii) whether or not its operations have been conducted in an efficient, effective, and
cost-efficient manner;
(iv) whether or not its programs have been effective in accomplishing the intended
objectives; and
(v) whether or not its management, control, and information systems are adequate,
effective, and secure.
(b) The auditor may not conduct performance and special purpose audits,
examinations, and reviews of any entity that receives public funds if the entity:
(i) has an elected auditor; and
(ii) has, within the entity's last budget year, had its financial statements or performance
formally reviewed by another outside auditor.
(5) The state auditor shall administer any oath or affirmation necessary to the
performance of the duties of the auditor's office, and may subpoena witnesses and documents,
whether electronic or otherwise, and examine into any matter that the auditor considers
necessary.
(6) The state auditor may require all persons who have had the disposition or
management of any property of this state or its political subdivisions to submit statements
regarding it at the time and in the form that the auditor requires.
(7) The state auditor shall:
(a) except where otherwise provided by law, institute suits in Salt Lake County in
relation to the assessment, collection, and payment of its revenues against:
(i) persons who by any means have become entrusted with public money or property
and have failed to pay over or deliver the money or property; and
(ii) all debtors of the state;
(b) collect and pay into the state treasury all fees received by the state auditor;
(c) perform the duties of a member of all boards of which the state auditor is a member
by the constitution or laws of the state, and any other duties that are prescribed by the
constitution and by law;
(d) stop the payment of the salary of any state official or state employee who:
(i) refuses to settle accounts or provide required statements about the custody and
disposition of public funds or other state property;
(ii) refuses, neglects, or ignores the instruction of the state auditor or any controlling
board or department head with respect to the manner of keeping prescribed accounts or funds;
or
(iii) fails to correct any delinquencies, improper procedures, and errors brought to the
official's or employee's attention;
(e) establish accounting systems, methods, and forms for public accounts in all taxing
or fee-assessing units of the state in the interest of uniformity, efficiency, and economy;
(f) superintend the contractual auditing of all state accounts;
(g) subject to Subsection (8)(a), withhold state allocated funds or the disbursement of
property taxes from a state or local taxing or fee-assessing unit, if necessary, to ensure that
officials and employees in those taxing units comply with state laws and procedures in the
budgeting, expenditures, and financial reporting of public funds; and
(h) subject to Subsection (9), withhold the disbursement of tax money from any county,
if necessary, to ensure that officials and employees in the county comply with Section
59-2-303.1
.
(8) (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the state auditor may not withhold funds
under Subsection (7)(g) until a state or local taxing or fee-assessing unit has received formal
written notice of noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days to make the
specified corrections.
(b) If, after receiving notice under Subsection (8)(a), a state or independent local
fee-assessing unit that exclusively assesses fees has not made corrections to comply with state
laws and procedures in the budgeting, expenditures, and financial reporting of public funds, the
state auditor:
(i) shall provide a recommended timeline for corrective actions; and
(ii) may prohibit the state or local fee-assessing unit from accessing money held by the
state; and
(iii) may prohibit a state or local fee-assessing unit from accessing money held in an
account of a financial institution by filing an action in district court requesting an order of the
court to prohibit a financial institution from providing the fee-assessing unit access to an
account.
(c) The state auditor shall remove a limitation on accessing funds under Subsection
(8)(b) upon compliance with state laws and procedures in the budgeting, expenditures, and
financial reporting of public funds.
(d) If a local taxing or fee-assessing unit has not adopted a budget in compliance with
state law, the state auditor:
(i) shall provide notice to the taxing or fee-assessing unit of the unit's failure to
comply;
(ii) may prohibit the taxing or fee-assessing unit from accessing money held by the
state; and
(iii) may prohibit a taxing or fee-assessing unit from accessing money held in an
account of a financial institution by:
(A) contacting the taxing or fee-assessing unit's financial institution and requesting that
the institution prohibit access to the account; or
(B) filing an action in district court requesting an order of the court to prohibit a
financial institution from providing the taxing or fee-assessing unit access to an account.
(e) If the local taxing or fee-assessing unit adopts a budget in compliance with state
law, the state auditor shall eliminate a limitation on accessing funds described in Subsection
(8)(d).
(9) The state auditor may not withhold funds under Subsection (7)(h) until a county has
received formal written notice of noncompliance from the auditor and has been given 60 days
to make the specified corrections.
(10) Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(g), (7)(h), (8)(b), or (8)(d) the state auditor:
(a) shall authorize a disbursement by a state or local taxing or fee-assessing unit if the
disbursement is necessary to:
(i) avoid a major disruption in the operations of the state or local taxing or
fee-assessing unit; or
(ii) meet debt service obligations; and
(b) may authorize a disbursement by a state or local taxing or fee-assessing unit as the
state auditor determines is appropriate.
(11) The state auditor shall:
(a) establish audit guidelines and procedures for audits of local mental health and
substance abuse authorities and their contract providers, conducted pursuant to Title 17,
Chapter 43, Parts 2, Local Substance Abuse Authorities and 3, Local Mental Health
Authorities, Title 51, Chapter 2a, Accounting Reports from Political Subdivisions, Interlocal
Organizations, and Other Local Entities Act, and Title 62A, Chapter 15, Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Act; and
(b) ensure that those guidelines and procedures provide assurances to the state that:
(i) state and federal funds appropriated to local mental health authorities are used for
mental health purposes;
(ii) a private provider under an annual or otherwise ongoing contract to provide
comprehensive mental health programs or services for a local mental health authority is in
compliance with state and local contract requirements, and state and federal law;
(iii) state and federal funds appropriated to local substance abuse authorities are used
for substance abuse programs and services; and
(iv) a private provider under an annual or otherwise ongoing contract to provide
comprehensive substance abuse programs or services for a local substance abuse authority is in
compliance with state and local contract requirements, and state and federal law.
(12) The state auditor may, in accordance with the auditor's responsibilities for political
subdivisions of the state as provided in Title 51, Chapter 2a, Accounting Reports from Political
Subdivisions, Interlocal Organizations, and Other Local Entities Act, initiate audits or
investigations of any political subdivision that are necessary to determine honesty and integrity
in fiscal affairs, accuracy and reliability of financial statements, effectiveness, and adequacy of
financial controls and compliance with the law.
(13) (a) The state auditor may not audit work that the state auditor performed before
becoming state auditor.
(b) If the state auditor has previously been a responsible official in state government
whose work has not yet been audited, the Legislature shall:
(i) designate how that work shall be audited; and
(ii) provide additional funding for those audits, if necessary.
(14) The state auditor shall:
(a) with the assistance, advice, and recommendations of an advisory committee
appointed by the state auditor from among local district boards of trustees, officers, and
employees and special service district boards, officers, and employees:
(i) prepare a Uniform Accounting Manual for Local Districts that:
(A) prescribes a uniform system of accounting and uniform budgeting and reporting
procedures for local districts under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local Government Entities -
Local Districts, and special service districts under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service
District Act;
(B) conforms with generally accepted accounting principles; and
(C) prescribes reasonable exceptions and modifications for smaller districts to the
uniform system of accounting, budgeting, and reporting;
(ii) maintain the manual under Subsection (14)(a) so that it continues to reflect
generally accepted accounting principles;
(iii) conduct a continuing review and modification of procedures in order to improve
them;
(iv) prepare and supply each district with suitable budget and reporting forms; and
(v) prepare instructional materials, conduct training programs, and render other
services considered necessary to assist local districts and special service districts in
implementing the uniform accounting, budgeting, and reporting procedures; and
(b) continually analyze and evaluate the accounting, budgeting, and reporting practices
and experiences of specific local districts and special service districts selected by the state
auditor and make the information available to all districts.
(15) (a) The following records in the custody or control of the state auditor are
protected records under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management
Act:
(i) records that would disclose information relating to allegations of personal
misconduct, gross mismanagement, or illegal activity of a past or present governmental
employee if the information or allegation cannot be corroborated by the state auditor through
other documents or evidence, and the records relating to the allegation are not relied upon by
the state auditor in preparing a final audit report;
(ii) records and audit workpapers to the extent they would disclose the identity of a
person who during the course of an audit, communicated the existence of any waste of public
funds, property, or manpower, or a violation or suspected violation of a law, rule, or regulation
adopted under the laws of this state, a political subdivision of the state, or any recognized entity
of the United States, if the information was disclosed on the condition that the identity of the
person be protected;
(iii) before an audit is completed and the final audit report is released, records or drafts
circulated to a person who is not an employee or head of a governmental entity for their
response or information;
(iv) records that would disclose an outline or part of any audit survey plans or audit
program; and
(v) requests for audits, if disclosure would risk circumvention of an audit.
(b) The provisions of Subsections (15)(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) do not prohibit the disclosure
of records or information that relate to a violation of the law by a governmental entity or
employee to a government prosecutor or peace officer.
(c) The provisions of this Subsection (15) do not limit the authority otherwise given to
the state auditor to classify a document as public, private, controlled, or protected under Title
63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
(d) (i) As used in this Subsection (15)(d), "record dispute" means a dispute between the
state auditor and the subject of an audit performed by the state auditor as to whether the state
auditor may release a record, as defined in Section 
63G-2-103
, to the public that the state
auditor gained access to in the course of the state auditor's audit but which the subject of the
audit claims is not subject to disclosure under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records
Access and Management Act.
(ii) The state auditor may submit a record dispute to the State Records Committee,
created in Section 
63G-2-501
, for a determination of whether the state auditor may, in
conjunction with the state auditor's release of an audit report, release to the public the record
that is the subject of the record dispute.
(iii) The state auditor or the subject of the audit may seek judicial review of a State
Records Committee determination under Subsection (15)(d)(ii), as provided in Section
63G-2-404
.
(16) If the state auditor conducts an audit of an entity that the state auditor has
previously audited and finds that the entity has not implemented a recommendation made by
the state auditor in a previous audit, the state auditor shall notify the Legislative Management
Committee through its audit subcommittee that the entity has not implemented that
recommendation.