Utah Code 63D-2-105. Use of authorized domain extensions for government websites

(1)

Terms Used In Utah Code 63D-2-105

Governmental entity: means :

(a)	an executive branch agency as defined in Section 63A-16-102;

(b)	the legislative branch;

(c)	the judicial branch;

(d)	the State Board of Education;

(e)	the Utah Board of Higher Education;

(f)	an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53B-1-102; and

(g)

a political subdivision of the state:

(i)	as defined in Section 17B-1-102; and

(ii)

including a school district. See Utah Code 63D-2-102

Governmental website: includes a court website. See Utah Code 63D-2-102

Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.

Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5

(a)

As used in this section, “authorized top level domain” means any of the following suffixes that follows the domain name in a website address:

(i)

gov;

(ii)

edu; and

(iii)

mil.

(2)

Beginning January 1, 2025, a governmental entity shall use an authorized top level domain for:

(a)	the website address for the governmental entity’s government website; and

(b)	the email addresses used by the governmental entity and the governmental entity’s employees.

(3)

Notwithstanding Subsection (2), a governmental entity may operate a website that uses a top level domain that is not an authorized top level domain if:

(a)	a reasonable person would not mistake the website as the governmental entity’s primary website; and

(b)

the governmental website is:

(i)	solely for internal use and not intended for use by members of the public;

(ii)	temporary and in use by the governmental entity for a period of less than one year; or

(iii)

related to an event, program, or informational campaign operated by the governmental entity in partnership with another person that is not a governmental entity.

(4)

The chief information officer appointed under Section 63A-16-201 may authorize a waiver of the requirement in Subsection (2) if:

(a)	there are extraordinary circumstances under which use of an authorized domain extension would cause demonstrable harm to citizens or businesses; and

(b)	the executive director or chief executive of the governmental entity submits a written request to the chief information officer that includes a justification for the waiver.

Enacted by Chapter 496, 2023 General Session

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