1. (1) There is created within the division the Government Records Office.

2. (2) The governor shall appoint the director of the office:

   1. (a) in consultation with the executive director; and
   2. (b) with the advice and consent of the Senate.

3. (3) The director shall be:

   1. (a) an attorney in good standing, authorized to practice law in Utah;
   2. (b) knowledgeable regarding state law and practices relating to records management, including the provisions of Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act;

   3. (c) committed to:

      1. (i) ensuring that records, and information in records, properly classified as private, protected, or controlled are disclosed only to the extent expressly provided by law;
      2. (ii) protecting the privacy of persons whose information is in the custody of a government entity; and
      3. (iii) the disclosure of records, and information contained in records, to the extent required by law; and
   4. (d) capable of adjudicating appeals relating to the disclosure or nondisclosure of records in a manner that is impartial, responsible, and strictly in accordance with the requirements of law.

4. (4)

   1. (a) An appointment described in Subsection (2) is for a four-year term.
   2. (b) The governor may, in accordance with Subsection (2), reappoint the same individual to consecutive terms as the director.
   3. (c) The governor may remove the director, only for cause, before the end of a four-year term.
   4. (d) Appointment of a director or an interim director is governed by the provisions of Section 67-1-1.5, relating to an executive branch management position.
5. (5) The Office of the Attorney General shall provide counsel to the office.

6. (6) The office shall, on an annual basis before October 1, electronically transmit a written report to the Government Operations Interim Committee on the work performed by the office during the previous year, that includes:

   1. (a) metrics on the standardization and efficiency of processing appeals; and
   2. (b) the effective implementation of the records ombudsman's role.

Enacted by Chapter 476, 2025 General Session