Brad Daw Votes to Restrict Access to Government Records

House Bill 477, restricting public access to many government records jogged through the House from committee to vote AFTER 3rd reading in less than 24 hours, only 24 hours after it was released.  House Bill 477 will be heard Friday March 4 at 3:00 in the Senate Rules Committee only one day after being passed in the House and 48 hours after it was publicly released.

61 House members voted for it including Brad Daw.  The following House members voted against it or were absent:

NAYS - 12
 
      Arent             Chavez-Houck      King              Poulson           
      Biskupski         Cosgrove          Litvack           Seelig            
      Briscoe           Fisher, Janice    Moss              Watkins           
 
 
 ABSENT OR NOT VOTING - 2
 
      Duckworth, S      Wright 

        
In my opinion the real issues with this bill include the speed that 

is moving it from beginning to finish.    The Bill was unveiled 

Tuesday night and, completely passed in the House and heard in

committee in the Senate by Friday.  Why is that?  Why was this

bill saved for the fast track at the END of the session and how

did it get 60 votes in the House with only 15 minutes discussion?

Does this indicate lots of closed door planning prior to being 

released to the public and why are 61 House members willing to 

go along with it?  

House Vote  

HB477 Legislative Website 

Salt Lake Tribune  

Salt Lake Tribune 

Deseret News 

"Currently under GRAMA, the public can request copies of 

government  records, including communication between lawmakers

 and other  government figures. The bill would exempt certain 

forms of electronic communication  from those requests, including 

voice mails, text messages  and online  chats." 

   Deseret News Committee Vote HB 477 

HB 477 also requires the cost of expensive GRAMA requests to be 

covered by the person  making the request. 

Daily Herald