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Monday, March 1, 2010
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
Only three more days of standing committee hearings to go. Today committees meet from 8 to 9:30 and from 4 to 6. Floor debate is from 9:30 to noon and 2 to 4 pm. In addition, the Senate Retirement and House Ethics Committees meets at noon.
SENATE RETIREMENT is looking at HB 233, Retirement Office Amendments; SB 171, Higher Education Retirement Benefits; and SB 240, Retirement Participation Amendments.
HOUSE ETHICS will consider three bills that have passed the Senate: Second Substitute SJR 3 – Joint Resolution on Ethics Complaint Procedures, contains joint House and Senate rules that establish an Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, its membership and detailed procedures. Second Substitute SB 136 revises Open and Public Meetings law to allow commission meetings to be closed during deliberations on an ethics complaint decision or legal advice deliberations. Substitute SB 138 says that records related to review of an ethics complaint can be private unless classified as public under legislative rule. Summary data reports after complaints have been decided would be public.
IN MORNING COMMITTEES
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT is considering HB 343, a Great Salt Lake Advisory Council to advise the governor and state agencies on sustainable use, environmental health, and reasonable access for development.
SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS are looking at HB 161.
Change of address information submitted by a voter to a state agency, such as the driver license division, could be put in the statewide voter registration database by the Lieutenant Governor and passed on to county election clerks.
Another proposal, SB 216, says military voters overseas can apply for ballots electronically.
Number 6 on the SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION agenda is Substitute SB 128.
It allows local governments with garbage disposal services, who convert waste to charcoal or biochar for fertilizer, to sell or trade carbon credits.
IN AFTERNOON COMMITTEES
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES will discuss Substitute SB 44, health care for legal immigrant children, and HB 66, health insurance coverage for prosthetic limbs.
HB 329 will be in HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. It sets limits and rules for campaign contributions. Financial reports would go into a searchable electronic database, and candidates failing to report on time would be fined $300 instead of being removed from the ballot. Typical contribution limits would be $10,000 to a state candidate, $5,000 to a legislative or state school board candidate or judge, $40,000 to a political party and $10,000 to a political action committee.
WHAT HAPPENED FRIDAY
In HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Alice Steiner reporting
I listened to the discussion of SB 275 2nd Substitute, by Senator Stephenson, who was not present at the start of the meeting.
First item addressed was HB 363 - Municipal Elections Amendment (Rep. Craig Frank) which makes early voting optional in cities of the fifth class which have between 1,000 and 10,000 residents. If a community has less than 1,000 residents, it is a town. Rep. Frank reported that there are 202 such cities in
Utah
. League of Cities and Towns spoke in support of the bill. It passed unanimously out of committee and onto the consent calendar
HB 321 - Bond Election Modifications was presented next. This bill requires a voter information pamphlet to be mailed if a bond would increase the tax rate by more than $15 per year on an average residence. Rep. Sheryl Allen, co-sponsor, testified in favor of the bill. She felt that the ballot language proposed would be clearer than the current required language where "increase" is required for all bond ballot measures even when debt is paid off at the same time, so that taxes paid would not change due to approval of the bond. Utah School Board Administrators spoke in favor of the bill. Utah Taxpayers Association spoke against.
A Zions Bank bond financing officer spoke in favor of the bill emphasizing the expenditure of school resources to overcome the mis-perception current language imposes on school districts. The committee amended the language in the notice and passed out the bill unanimously. Sponsor will continue to work on the precise language.
SB 89 Substitute - Legal Notice Amendments (Urquhart) exempts UDOT from doing on-line publication of legal notices.
It also appears to consolidate all legal notices on the Utah Public Notice Website. Passed unanimously and put on the consent calendar.
Finally, Senator Stephenson was asked to present SB 275 - 2nd Substitute which makes removing your name from an initiative or referendum petition simpler (without a notary public), and establishes that date for removing one's name as May 15.
There were not many people present in the audience. Senator Stephenson testified that the desire to remove names is much greater this year than in years past. He defended the right of citizens to initiate laws and to refer laws passed to a vote of the people. I would like to have testified against the extended dates, but could find no specific support in either the positions of the US League or the Utah League positions.
Representative Hansen raised the issue of the difference in dates for turning in the names and removal requests. He raised the question of an early decision by the elections office on the validity of the signatures. Stephenson feels like an easier removal process will make the petition gatherers more honest about what people are signing. Mark Thomas from the Lt. Governor’s office verified that the actual deadline in the law for turning in signatures to the elections officer is June 1. The bill will take effect upon the signature of the governor if approved by 2/3 of each house. If not, it will take effect in May and would not affect the initiative petitions currently in circulation. Eagle Forum spoke in favor of this bill, as did the Sutherland Institute and a group of school parents. I spoke, as an individual, against the later date for withdrawing signatures and made an error about the e-mail submitting of the signature which the bill clearly says is not permitted. Rep. Stephenson showed me the language and asked if I concurred with it, which was very nice. I politely acknowledged my error. Representative Hansen acknowledged concern about the date disparity. The bill passed out with one nay vote, Representative Neil Hansen.
IN THE SENATE
Kathy Van Dame Reporting
In introducing HJR 12 Climate Change Joint Resolution, Senator Scott Jenkins (
R-Plain
City
) said he hatesto pile on with another message bill, but this one is important considering the many recent revelations & changes inwhat was considered to be solid science. So let's hold off for 10 years, while information is gathered & peer-reviewed, before taking actions that will seriously impact us financially.
Sen. Luz Robles (D-SLC) spoke against bill, saying there is enough evidence, and our children can't wait for us to take care of the environment.
Sen. Lyle Hilliard (R-Logan) said we shouldn't be wasting our time on this type of legislation.
Sen. Wayne Niederhauser (R-Sandy), spoke in favor, saying the peak oil problem indicates we should be moving to carbon free energy. We should not be, EPA should not be, basing environmental policy on the assumption that CO2 will continue on a steep trajectory. We need to be working on our air pollution, getting particulates & other harmful pollutants out of our air.
Sen. Benjamin McAdams (D-SLC) spoke against the resolution. It is clear things are happening, and we can reduce risk; we should start reacting today.
Sen. Dennis Stowell (R-Parowan) spoke in favor, saying he's amazed at the number of e-mails he's gotten complaining about soup in the valley, but CO2 is not the cause of our air pollution. We can't afford the insurance, the financial impact of acting on Climate Change now. In the second reading on Thursday and the third reading Friday 2/26, there were 8 Senators who voted no. Sen. Morgan missed the 2nd vote, Sen Hillyard missed the 3rd.
NAYS 8
Sen Gene Davis (D-SLT)
Sen Brent Goodfellow (D-WVC)
Sen Lyle Hilliard (R-Logan)
Sen Pat Jones (D-SLC)
Sen Karen Mayne (D-WVC)
Sen Benjamin McAdams (D-SLC)
Sen Karen Morgan (D-SLC)
Sen. Luz Robles (D-SLC)
Sen Ross Romero (D-SLC)
Sandy Peck
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