1.1. Legislative intent (63G-2-102)

The Government Records Access and Management Act, GRAMA, governs access to government records in Utah. GRAMA is designed to protect both privacy and transparency in government. It creates and describes a classification system within which specific records can be identified so that appropriate access can readily be determined. It establishes a process to appeal the denial of access.

The law begins with a statement that the Utah Legislature intends to balance the public’s right to access information about the conduct of public business with individuals’ rights of privacy in relation to personal information the government gathers about them. It also recognizes the need for the government to restrict certain records for the public good.

63G-2-102 Links to an external site.. Legislative intent.
(1) In enacting this act, the Legislature recognizes two constitutional rights:
  • (a) the public's right of access to information concerning the conduct of the public's business; and
  • (b) the right of privacy in relation to personal data gathered by governmental entities.
(2) The Legislature also recognizes a public policy interest in allowing a government to restrict access to certain records, as specified in this chapter, for the public good.

The opening paragraphs further state legislative intent to:

  • promote the public's right of easy and reasonable access to public records;
  • specify the conditions under which the public interest in allowing restrictions on access to records may outweigh the public's interest in access;
  • prevent abuse of confidentiality by governmental entities;
  • provide guidelines for both disclosure and restrictions on access to government records, which are based on the equitable weighing of the pertinent interests and consistent with nationwide standards of information practices;
  • favor public access when countervailing interests are of equal weight; and
  • establish fair and reasonable records management practices.

Government record officers should consider these objectives when making decisions about whether to provide access to government records.