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MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE REVENUE AND TAXATION

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room C445 - State Capitol, State Capitol Complex

                     February 5, 2008

MEMBERS PRESENT:     Rep. John Dougall, Chair                
                Rep. Roger Barrus                
                Rep. Tim M. Cosgrove
                 Rep. Wayne A. Harper                      
                 Rep. Gregory H. Hughes
                Rep. Christine Johnson
                Rep. Bradley G. Last                 
                Rep. Roz McGee
                 Rep. Carol Spackman Moss                           
                 Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold                         
                 Rep. Aaron Tilton
                Rep. Carl Wimmer
                                 
MEMBERS ABSENT:     Rep. Craig A. Frank, Vice Chair
                 Rep. Gordon E. Snow
            
STAFF:            Bryant Howe, Assistant Director
                Rosemary Young, Secretary
                    
Note:    A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Rep. Dougall called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.

MOTION:    Rep. McGee moved to approve the minutes of the February 1, 2008 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Johnson, Rep. Moss, and Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.

Rep. Dougall relinquished the chair to Rep. Harper.

H.B. 58    Severance Tax Amendments (Rep. J. Dougall)

MOTION:    Rep. Dougall moved to adopt 1st Substitute H.B. 58. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Johnson, Rep. Moss, and Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.

Rep. Dougall introduced the substitute bill and explained it to the committee. The following individuals spoke in favor of the bill:

    Keith Prescott            Utah Tax Review Commission
    Mark Buchi            Utah Tax Review Commission
    Allison Rowland        Voices for Utah Children

MOTION:    Rep. Hughes moved to transmit with a favorable recommendation 1st Sub HB 58. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Moss absent for the vote.

H.B. 69    Repeal of Board Leeway for Reading Improvement (Rep. J. Dougall)

MOTION:    Rep. Dougall moved to amend HB 69 as follows:

1.    Page 3, Lines 77 through 80 :    

             77          [(A)] (8) [each existing charter school's prior] The State Board of Education shall
             78      distribute K-3 Student Program funds
  to:

(a) provide qualifying school districts that have necessarily existent small schools, as defined in Section 53A-17a-109, a base amount; and
(b) allocate the remaining funds  
in an amount proportionate to the current year fall

             79      enrollment in grades kindergarten through grade 3[; and] in each qualifying school district or
             80      charter school.

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Moss absent for the vote.

Rep. Dougall introduced the amended bill and explained it to the committee. Courtney White , Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill; and Ron Mortensen, Citizens Coalition for Tax Fairness, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Wimmer moved to transmit HB 69 as amended with a favorable recommenda- tion. The motion passed with Rep. Cosgrove voting against and Rep. Moss absent for the vote.

Rep. Harper relinquished the chair to Rep. Dougall.

H.B. 155    Property Tax - Residential Exemption (Rep. G. Froerer)

Rep. Froerer introduced the bill and explained it to the committee with the assistance of Rebecca Rockwell, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. Brent Gardner, Utah Association of Counties, spoke to the bill; and Bert Hulet, citizen from Bountiful, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Hughes moved to hold the bill and place it at the top of the next agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:    Rep. Wimmer moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Rep. Dougall adjourned the meeting at 9:36 a.m.


                            __________________________
                            Rep. John Dougall, Chair