Link to Zipped WordPerfect Minutes 8K bytes

MINUTES OF THE SENATE BUSINESS & LABOR
 STANDING COMMITTEE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008, 8:15 A.M.
ROOM W015, WEST OFFICE BUILDING
STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX


Members Present:    Sen. Kevin VanTassell, Chair
        Sen. Gene Davis
        Sen. Dan Eastman
        Sen. Bill Hickman
        Sen. Karen Mayne
        Sen. Wayne Niederhauser
        Sen. Carlene Walker
        
Staff Present:    Allison Nicholson, Policy Analyst
        Karen Allred, Committee Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Taz Biesinger, Utah Home Builders Association
        Craig Peterson, American Council of Engineering
        Joey Gilbert, Vice President, Associated General Contractors
        Dennis V. Lloyd, General Counsel, Workers' Compensation Fund
        Francine Giani, Executive Director, Department of Commerce
        Robert Wilde, Attorney, Veteran
        Ken Parkinson, Attorney
        Elizabeth Peck, Attorney
        Dave Davis, Vice President, Utah Food Industry Association
        Candace Daly, State Director, National Federation of Independent          Business
        Chris Kyler, Attorney, Utah Association of Realtors
        Garth Jacobsen, CT Corporation
        Kathy Berg, Director, Division of Corporations and Commercial Code,          Department of Commerce

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Chair VanTassell called the meeting to order at 8:20 a.m.

Approval of Minutes

    MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2008 meeting.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Davis, Eastman, and Hickman absent for the     vote.


1.    S.B. 225 Gubernatorial and Legislative Space in the Capitol (C. Bramble)

    Sen. Bramble introduced the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Davis, Eastman, and Hickman absent for the     vote.

Sen. Walker assumed the Committee Chair

2.    S.B. 220 Cause of Action for Defective Construction (C. Bramble)

    Sen. Bramble introduced the bill and proposed the following amendments:

1.    Page 1, Line 27 through Page 2, Line 36 :    

             27          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), an action for defective
  design or       construction is limited

             28      to breach of the contract.
             29          (2) An action for defective
  design or       construction may include physical property damage or

             30      physical personal injury if the damage or injury is caused by the defective
  design or       construction.


             32          (a) the failure of construction to function as designed; or
             33          (b) diminution of the value of the constructed property because of the defective
  design or      

             34      construction.
             35          (4) An action for defective
  design or       construction may be brought only by a person in privity of

             36      contract with the original contractor
  , architect, engineer,       or the real estate developer.

        
     MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to adopt the amendments.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Eastman and VanTassell absent for the vote.

    Taz Biesinger, Utah Home Builders Association; Craig Peterson, American Council of     Engineering; and Joey Gilbert, Vice President, Associated General Contractors; spoke in     support of the bill.


     MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Eastman and VanTassell absent for the vote.

3.    S.B. 189 Independent Contractor Database (D. Eastman)

    Sen. Eastman introduced the bill.

    Dennis V. Lloyd, General Counsel, Workers' Compensation Fund further clarified the bill.

    Francine Giani, Executive Director, Department of Commerce, spoke to the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. VanTassell absent for the vote.

4.    S.B. 166 Nondiscrimination Amendments (S. McCoy)

    Sen. McCoy introduced the bill and distributed 1st Sub. S.B. 166.

     MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to adopt 1st Sub. S.B. 166.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. VanTassell absent for the vote.

    Robert Wilde, Attorney, Veteran; Ken Parkinson, Attorney; and Elizabeth Peck, Attorney;     spoke in support of the bill.

    Dave Davis, Vice President, Utah Food Industry Association; Candace Daly, State Director,     National Federation of Independent Business; and Chris Kyler, Attorney, Utah Association of     Realtors; spoke in opposition to the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 3, Lines 62 through 63 :    

             62          (iv) a person employing
{   [   } 15      {   ]   }      {   ten   } or more employees within the state for each working

             63      day in each of 20 calendar weeks or more in the current or preceding calendar year.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended.

    The motion passed unanimously.


Sen. VanTassell resumed the Committee Chair.

5.    S.B. 88 Uniform Model Registered Agent Act (L. Hillyard)

     Sen. Hillyard introduced the bill.

    Garth Jacobsen, CT Corporation, and Kathy Berg, Director, Division of Corporations and     Commercial Code, Department of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved that the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar.

    The motion passed unanimously.

6.    S.B. 205 Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (L. Hillyard)

    Sen. Hillyard introduced the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to adjourn.

    The motion passed unanimously.
    
    Chair VanTassell adjourned the meeting at 9:52 a.m.





                _________________________________
                Sen. Kevin VanTassell, Committee Chair