Utah AG Shurtleff Offers “The Open Book” On Government Records & Meetings

March 19, 2008 -- Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff wants to let some sunshine in on government records and meetings. The Attorney General’s Office has created “The Open Book,” a 27-page pocket-sized handbook to help answer questions on open records and open meetings.

“The Open Book is my commitment to the idea that open government is better government,” Shurtleff wrote in the preface. “It is my hope that The Open Book will help everyone make sure the public’s business is conducted in public.”

The Open Book has a simple question and answer format designed to help journalists, public officials and ordinary citizens. The handbook answers questions like:

● Can a meeting be held without people being in the same room?
● What should you do if you believe you have been illegally kicked out of a meeting?
● What records are public?
● How do I obtain a record?

The Open Book contains the entire “Open and Public Meetings Act” and a sample form to make a Government Records And Management Act (GRAMA) request. The publication is designed to be a convenient but useful means to fill the void between these publications:

● The wallet-sized card on Utah Open Meetings created by the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists;
● The 106-page “Utah Media Law Handbook and Guide to Open Government” which was prepared by the
Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Utahns For Open Government (UFOG); and
● The 190-page “Handbook for the Utah Government Records and Management Act,” which was prepared by the Attorney General’s Office.

"The Open Book will be a tremendous resource for Utah citizens, elected officials and journalists,” says Linda Peterseon, Utah Foundation For Open Government President and Managing Editor of The Valley Journals. “To have such an easy to use guide to the Open and Public Meetings Act and GRAMA at our fingertips will only strengthen our understanding of and commitment to open and transparent government in our state. I applaud Attorney General Mark Shurtleff for producing this book."

The Attorney General’s Office printed 2,500 copies of The Open Book and will distribute them to public officials, journalists and Utah citizens. The publication will also be available online with additional GRAMA information at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/GRAMA.html.

The Open Book is being released during Sunshine Week, a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. The handbook is being released shortly before the Attorney General’s Office is conducting a GRAMA workshop. Assistant Attorney General Laura Lockhart, who helped develop GRAMA law for Utah, and Jeff Hunt, a former journalist and practicing attorney specializing in First Amendment, media and intellectual property law. The workshop was originally scheduled for employees of the Attorney General’s Office but an invitation was sent to all state and local public information officers.

The Attorney General will also be participating in a panel discussion entitled, “Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right To Know.” The event is being sponsored by the SPJ and the League of Women Voters. During the discussion, the Society of Professional Journalists plans to present the Sunshine Award to Mark Shurtleff, Jeff Hunt, Mike O’Brien and David Reymann for helping to create Utah’s first Shield Rule for reporters.

Events for Wednesday, March 19, 2008

10:00 a.m.
Press Conference to release The Open Book
11:00 a.m.
GRAMA Workshop
6:30 p.m.
Live Feed from the National Press Club “Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right to Know”
7:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion and Q & A
Participants: Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General; Dan Harrie, Salt Lake Tribune; Ben Winslow, Deseret Morning News; and Sherilyn Bennion, retired professor of journalism

View today's GRAMA CLE panel discussion at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/utah-attorney-general

Source: Utah Attorney General