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Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has apparently changed his mind about a bill that would limit public access to police officers' disciplinary records.

Becker has asked his staff to "further analyze the scope of the bill and suggest changes to narrow its effects" so proposed legislation doesn't impede with Becker's belief in government transparency, said Becker spokeswoman Helen Langan on Monday.

The position is a shift from last week, when the mayor's office cast support in favor of SB260, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan. Langan said Becker has looked more closely at SB260 and flagged some concerns. He originally supported the bill based on advice from Police Chief Chris Burbank, she said.

The bill would give Utah police an exemption established in 2000 for Salt Lake County officers: disciplinary charges against them wouldn't be made public unless the officer appeals the sanction or agrees to open the records.

The proposed legislation has drawn criticism from the Utah Media Coalition, of which The Salt Lake Tribune is a member, and other watchdog groups who say police discipline records should be open to the public.

Becker wants to see the bill crafted so police officers due process rights are protected during an investigation, but also wants records to be routinely made public once an officer's appeal to discipline measures is denied, Langan said.

SB260 was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee on Friday, but Buttars' requested the bill's hearing be moved to a later date in order to work out potential amendments.