Monday, March 16, 2026

Revised GRAMA Notice of Appeal

To: [Lonny Pehrson, Director Government Records Office]
Cc: [GOEO Director, Et. Al.]

Director Pehrson,

Please accept this email and the attached documents as my revised GRAMA Notice of Appeal to the Director of the Government Records Office under Utah Code §§ 63G‑2‑402 and 63G‑2‑403, regarding the March 3, 2026, decision of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) denying my records request related to an Industrial Assistance Account grant.

Attached are the following documents:

Appeal_Notice_GRO_Director_GOEO_Revised_20260316.pdf
AppEx_01_20260303_GRAMA_AppealDenial.pdf
AppEx_02_20260108_GOEO_Boar..JAN26_PublicNotice_1372663.pdf
AppEx_03_20260210_GOEO_Board_8JAN26_Minutes_1389373.pdf
AppEx_04_20260130_GOEO_Boar..o_to_Text_generated_Transcript.pdf
AppEx_05_20260305_ConceptVsMotion.pdf
AppEx_06_20260209_GRAMA_Request_IAA.pdf
AppEx_07_20260108_AllMaterials_GOEOBoard_-_1.8.26_1372663.pdf AppEx_08_20250523_Articles_Inc..ation_NUOVO_FILM_FEST_INC.pdf
AppEx_09_20260210_GRAMA_Denial_PF_PIO.pdf
AppEx_10_20260218_GRAMA_Appeal.pdf
AppEx_11_20260302_GRAMA_AppealFollowUp.pdf
AppEx_12_20260210-20260305_GOEO_Meeting_V_Minutes.pdf
AppEx_13_20260302_Response_GRAMAAppealFollowup.pdf
AppEx_14_20250325_SB02_Sec1_Subsec1a_It22.pdf
AppEx_15_20260128_UTStateAuditor_Info_Case_016517.pdf
AppEx_16_20260218_GRAMAAppealRecieved.pdf
AppEx_17_20260220_UFA_GOEO_EthicsConductEvaluation.pdf

I am simultaneously serving this Notice and all exhibits upon GOEO and the Attorney General’s Office by copying them on this email, consistent with Utah Code § 63G‑2‑403.

Please confirm receipt of this appeal and all attachments—I never received confirmation of my previous submission.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Puente…
Salt Lake City…

[ATTACHMENTS]

*                    *                    *

Subject: Re: Request for written clarification of legislative intent regarding S.B. 2 lapse provision and GOEO authority
Date: March 16, 2026 at 8:37:59 AM MDT
To: Steven Allred (Deputy Fiscal Analyst)
Cc: [Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson (Executive Appropriations Chair), Rep. Val L. Peterson (Executive Appropriations Chair)]
[Christine R. Gilbert (Drafting Attorney/Deputy General Counsel),(State Auditor)

Mr. Allred,

Thank you for the prompt response to my previous email. However, my original questions remain unanswered. As stated previously:

I respectfully request a written response addressing:

  • Whether, in your understanding... S.B. 2 permits GOEO to treat conditional Sundance funds as available if the condition precedent was not met.
  • Whether a lapse provision in S.B. 2 may lawfully be ignored, bypassed, or reinterpreted by GOEO in the administration of those funds. 
  • If such authority is believed to exist, the specific statutory text or legal basis supporting that conclusion. 
  • Whether GOEO’s present course of action is consistent with the legislative intent underlying the appropriation and lapse language adopted in S.B. 2.

I would appreciate a direct written response stating whether, in your view, the Legislature intended these funds to lapse if the statutory condition was not satisfied.

Respectfully,

Joseph L. Puente