13-43-203. Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman — Duties.
(1) |
The Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman shall:
Terms Used In Utah Code 13-43-203- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Land: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(a) |
develop and maintain expertise in and understanding of takings, eminent domain, and land use law; |
(b) |
clearly identify the specific information that is prepared for distribution to property owners whose land is being acquired under the provisions of Section 78B-6-505; |
(d) |
at the request of a state agency or local government, assist the state agency or local government, in analyzing actions with potential takings implications or other land use issues; |
(e) |
advise real property owners who:
(i) |
have a legitimate potential or actual takings claim against a state or local government entity or have questions about takings, eminent domain, and land use law; or |
(ii) |
own a parcel of property that is landlocked, as to the owner’s rights and options with respect to obtaining access to a public street; |
|
(f) |
identify state or local government actions that have potential takings implications and, if appropriate, advise those state or local government entities about those implications; |
(g) |
provide information to private citizens, civic groups, government entities, and other interested parties about takings, eminent domain, and land use law and their rights, including a right to just compensation, and responsibilities under the takings, eminent domain, or land use laws through seminars and publications, and by other appropriate means; |
(h) |
(i) |
provide the information described in Section 78B-6-505 on the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman’s website in a form that is easily accessible; and |
(ii) |
ensure that the information is current; and |
|
(i) |
(i) |
provide education and training regarding:
(A) |
the drafting and application of land use laws and regulations; and |
(B) |
land use dispute resolution; and |
|
(ii) |
use any money transmitted in accordance with Subsection 15A-1-209(5) to pay for any expenses required to provide the education and training described in Subsection (1)(i)(i), including grants to a land use training organization that:
(A) |
the Land Use and Eminent Domain Advisory Board, created in Section 13-43-202, selects and proposes; and |
(B) |
the property rights ombudsman and the executive director of the Department of Commerce jointly approve. |
|
|
|
(2) |
(a) |
Neither the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman nor its individual attorneys may represent private parties, state agencies, local governments, or any other individual or entity in a legal action that arises from or relates to a matter addressed in this chapter. |
(b) |
An action by an attorney employed by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman, by a neutral third party acting as mediator or arbitrator under Section 13-43-204, or by a neutral third party rendering an advisory opinion under Section 13-43-205 or 13-43-206, taken within the scope of the duties set forth in this chapter, does not create an attorney-client relationship between the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman, or the office’s attorneys or appointees, and an individual or entity. |
|
(3) |
No member of the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman nor a neutral third party rendering an advisory opinion under Section 13-43-205 or 13-43-206, may be compelled to testify in a civil action filed concerning the subject matter of any review, mediation, or arbitration by, or arranged through, the office. |
(4) |
(a) |
Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), evidence of a review by the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman and the opinions, writings, findings, and determinations of the Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman are not admissible as evidence in a judicial action. |
(b) |
Subsection (4)(a) does not apply to:
(iii) |
actions for de novo review of an arbitration award or issue brought under the authority of Subsection 13-43-204(3)(a)(i); or |
|
|
Amended by Chapter 215, 2018 General Session