Transparency at a Standstill: Utah State Records Committee cannot meet to consider appeals

SALT LAKE CITY — If a government office denies access to a public record request in Utah, citizens and journalists can appeal to the State Records Committee.

And they get a lot of appeals.

“We have had so many requests that we’ve been meeting twice monthly for the last little bit,” said Marie Cornwall, whose term ended last month.

With so many appeals piling up, it can take months to get on their agenda, and now the wait time is growing.

The State Records Committee can’t meet, Cornwall explained, because they don’t have a quorum. The seven-member panel needs at least five members to meet and consider appeals from the public.

Cornwall, who served as a citizen representative, is one of three members whose terms have expired. Gov. Spencer Cox’s office submitted all three of them for another term on July 22, but the Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee – which is tasked with approving them – declined.

“I think I’ve only seen one confirmation get declined in my two or so years in the Senate,” said Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Millcreek, who serves on the confirmation committee. Blouin said he was never asked to weigh in on or consider the re-appointments and didn’t have any concerns about the names submitted.

Read the full story and more from Daniella Rivera on ksltv.com.

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