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MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Room C445, State Capitol, State Capitol Complex

February 3, 2009


Members Present:    Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair
    Rep. John Mathis, Vice Chair
        Rep. Mel Brown
    Rep. Brad Dee
    Rep. Jack Draxler
    Rep. Kerry Gibson
    Rep. James Gowans
    Rep. Neal Hendrickson
    Rep. Mike Noel
    Rep. Patrick Painter
    Rep. Phil Riesen
    Rep. Christine Watkins
    Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox
    Rep. Brad Winn

Staff Present:    Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
            Carrie Griffith, Committee Secretary
    
Note:        List of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes

Rep. Barrus called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Riesen moved to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2009 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Brown, Rep. Dee and Rep. Gowans absent for the vote.

H.B. 241    Priority of Water Rights (Rep. K. Gibson)

Rep. Gibson explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    Mike Styler, Director Department of Natural Resources
            Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau
            
Spoke against the bill:    Fred Finlinson, Utah Water Coalition
            Pat Casaday, Sandy City
            Scott Ruppe, Uintah Water Conservancy District
            Jodi Hoffman, Utah League of Cities and Towns
            Craig Smith, lawyer representing several public water suppliers

MOTION:    Rep. Noel moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Hendrickson, Rep. Painter and Rep. Riesen voting in opposition.

Rep. Barrus recognized and welcomed to the meeting Boyd Clayton, acting State Engineer and Kent Jones, the newly nominated State Engineer.

H.B. 278    B and C Roads Fund Amendments (Rep. M. Noel)

MOTION:    Rep. Noel moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Lines 13 through 15 :    

             13          .    provides that a county or municipality may use up to 30% of the class B and class C
             14      roads account funds allocated to the county or municipality to pay the costs of
             15      asserting, defending, or litigating state and local government rights under R.S. 2477
  on class B, class C, or class D roads       ;


2.    Page 2, Lines 34 through 36 :    

             34          (2) use up to 30% of the class B and class C roads account funds allocated to the
             35      county or municipality to pay the costs of asserting, defending, or litigating state and local
             36      government rights under R.S. 2477
  on class B, class C, or class D roads       .


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

Rep. Noel explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau
            Mike Swenson, Utah Shared Access Alliance

MOTION:    Rep. Gibson moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Dee absent for the vote.

H.B. 105    Department of Agriculture and Food Amendments (Rep. J. Mathis)

Rep. Mathis explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Winn moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 30 :    


             30          (1) approve and make a
{   farm   } [loans] loan        to a farm or agricultural cooperative association regulated under Title 3, General Provisions Relating to Agricultural Associations,       subject to Section 4-19-3 , including:


The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:    Rep. Gibson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Noel absent for the vote.

H.B. 94    State Parks Fee Exemption for Seniors (Rep. R. Greenwood) (handout)

Rep. Greenwood explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:     Robert Dabling, Farr West representing senior citizens across the State
            Bill Rigby, citizen

Spoke against the bill:    Eric Stucki, Utah State Parks, Legislative liaison
            Mike Styler, Director Department of Natural Resources

MOTION:    Rep. moved to pass the bill out favorably.

SUBSTITUTE
MOTION:    Rep. Dee moved to adjourn. The motion failed with Rep. Dee and Rep. Riesen voting in the affirmative. Rep. Draxler, Rep. Noel and Rep. Winn were absent for the vote.

The original motion passed with Rep. Barrus, Rep. Mathis, Rep. Riesen and Rep. Watkins voting in opposition. Rep. Draxler, Rep. Noel and Rep. Winn were absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Hendrickson moved to adjourn.

Rep. Barrus adjourned the meeting at 3:44 p.m.




                         _________________________
    Rep. Roger E. Barrus, Chair