H.J.R. 11 Enrolled

1

JOINT RULES RESOLUTION ON BUDGET PROCESS AMENDMENTS
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Brad R. Wilson
5 Senate Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature modifies provisions related to duties of the
10 Executive Appropriations Committee when preparing base budget recommendations.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . provides that when directing staff on what revenue estimates to use in preparing
14 budget recommendations, the Executive Appropriations Committee shall hear a
15 report on treating above-trend revenue growth as one-time revenue for major tax
16 types;
17 . provides that when deciding whether to set aside special allocations for the end of
18 the session, the Executive Appropriations Committee shall consider the historical,
19 current, and anticipated status of debt, long-term liabilities, General Fund
20 borrowing, reserves, fund balances, nonlapsing appropriation balances, cash funded
21 infrastructure investment, and federal funds paid to the state;
22 . amends deadlines within the general session to:
23 . prioritize fiscal note bills;
24 . pass or defeat a bill with a fiscal note;
25 . pass or defeat a base budget bill;
26 . complete decisions necessary to draft the final appropriations bill;
27 . for legislators to receive a copy of any supplemental appropriations bill and
28 bond bill; and
29 . pass or defeat a bond bill;

30 . repeals requirements for the Executive Appropriations Committee to conduct an
31 agency in-depth budget review; and
32 . makes technical changes.
33 Special Clauses:
34 None
35 Legislative Rules Affected:
36 AMENDS:
37 JR3-2-402
38 JR4-5-101
39 JR4-5-201
40 JR4-5-202
41 JR4-5-301
42 REPEALS:
43 JR3-2-502
44
45 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
46 Section 1. JR3-2-402 is amended to read:
47 JR3-2-402. Executive appropriations -- Duties -- Base budgets.
48 (1) As used in this rule:
49 (a) "Base budget" means amounts appropriated by the Legislature for each item of
50 appropriation for the current fiscal year that:
51 (i) are not designated as one-time in an appropriation, regardless of whether the
52 appropriation is covered by ongoing or one-time revenue sources; and
53 (ii) were not vetoed by the governor, unless the Legislature overrode the veto.
54 (b) "Base budget" includes:
55 (i) any changes to those amounts approved by the Executive Appropriations
56 Committee; and
57 (ii) amounts appropriated for debt service.

58 (2) (a) The Executive Appropriations Committee shall meet no later than the third
59 Wednesday in December to:
60 (i) direct staff as to what revenue estimate to use in preparing budget
61 recommendations, to include a forecast for federal fund receipts;
62 (ii) consider treating above-trend revenue growth as one-time revenue for major tax
63 types;
64 (iii) hear a report on the historical, current, and anticipated status of the following:
65 (A) debt;
66 (B) long term liabilities;
67 (C) contingent liabilities;
68 (D) General Fund borrowing;
69 (E) reserves;
70 (F) fund balances;
71 (G) nonlapsing appropriation balances;
72 (H) cash funded infrastructure investment; and
73 (I) changes in federal funds paid to the state;
74 [(ii)] (iv) decide whether to set aside special allocations for the end of the session,
75 including [any special] allocations [resulting from an anticipated reduction in the amount of
76 federal funds paid to the state;]:
77 (A) to address any anticipated reduction in the amount of federal funds paid to the
78 state; and
79 (B) of one-time revenue to pay down debt and other liabilities;
80 [(iii)] (v) approve the appropriate amount for each subcommittee to use in preparing its
81 budget;
82 [(iv)] (vi) set a budget figure; and
83 [(v)] (vii) adopt a base budget in accordance with Subsection (2)(b) and direct the
84 legislative fiscal analyst to prepare one or more appropriations acts appropriating one or more
85 base budgets for the next fiscal year.

86 (b) In a base budget adopted under Subsection (2)(a), appropriations from the General
87 Fund, the Education Fund, and the Uniform School Fund shall be set as follows:
88 (i) if the next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates set under Subsection (2)(a)(i) are
89 equal to or greater than the current fiscal year ongoing appropriations, the new fiscal year base
90 budget is not changed;
91 (ii) if the next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates set under Subsection (2)(a)(i) are
92 less than the current fiscal year ongoing appropriations, the new fiscal year base budget is
93 reduced by the same percentage that projected next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates are
94 lower than the total of current fiscal year ongoing appropriations; and
95 (iii) in making a reduction under Subsection (2)(b)(ii), appropriated debt service shall
96 not be reduced, and other ongoing appropriations shall be reduced, in an amount sufficient to
97 make the total ongoing appropriations, including the unadjusted debt service, equal to the
98 percentage calculated under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
99 (c) The chairs of each appropriation subcommittee are invited to attend this meeting.
100 (3) Appropriations subcommittees may not meet while the Senate or House is in
101 session without special leave from the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate.
102 (4) All proposed items of expenditure to be included in the appropriations bills shall be
103 submitted to one of the subcommittees named in JR3-2-302 for consideration and
104 recommendation.
105 (5) (a) After receiving and reviewing subcommittee reports, the Executive
106 Appropriations Committee may refer the report back to an appropriations subcommittee with
107 any guidelines the Executive Appropriations Committee considers necessary to assist the
108 subcommittee in producing a balanced budget.
109 (b) The subcommittee shall meet to review the new guidelines and report the
110 adjustments to the chairs of the Executive Appropriations Committee as soon as possible.
111 (6) (a) After receiving the reports, the Executive Appropriations Committee chairs will
112 report them to the Executive Appropriations Committee.
113 (b) That committee shall:

114 (i) make any further adjustments necessary to balance the budget; and
115 (ii) complete all decisions necessary to draft the final appropriations bill no later than
116 the [38th] 39th day of the annual general session.
117 Section 2. JR4-5-101 is amended to read:
118 JR4-5-101. Deadline for passing certain fiscal note bills.
119 (1) (a) The House shall refer any Senate bill with a fiscal note of $10,000 or more to
120 the House Rules Committee before giving that bill a third reading.
121 (b) The Senate shall table on third reading each House bill with a fiscal note of $10,000
122 or more.
123 (2) (a) Before adjourning on the [32nd] 43rd day of the annual general session, each
124 legislator shall prioritize fiscal note bills and identify other projects or programs for new or
125 one-time funding according to the process established by leadership.
126 (b) Before adjourning on the [39th] 44th day of the annual general session, the
127 Legislature shall either pass or defeat each bill with a fiscal note of $10,000 or more except
128 constitutional amendment resolutions.
129 Section 3. JR4-5-201 is amended to read:
130 JR4-5-201. Deadline for passing base budget bills.
131 (1) Each legislator shall receive a copy of each base budget bill for the next fiscal year
132 by calendared floor time on the first day of the annual general session.
133 (2) By noon on the [tenth] 16th day, but not before the third day, of the annual general
134 session, the Legislature shall either pass or defeat each base budget bill.
135 Section 4. JR4-5-202 is amended to read:
136 JR4-5-202. Deadline for passing certain appropriations bills and school finance
137 bills.
138 (1) Each legislator shall receive a copy of any general appropriations bills, any
139 supplemental appropriations bills, and any school finance bills by calendared floor time on the
140 [43rd] 42nd day of the annual general session.
141 (2) Before the calendared closing time of the 43rd day of the annual general session,

142 the Legislature shall either pass or defeat those general appropriations bills, supplemental
143 appropriations bills, and school finance bills.
144 Section 5. JR4-5-301 is amended to read:
145 Part 3. Bond Bills
146 JR4-5-301. Deadline for passing bond bills.
147 (1) Each legislator shall receive a copy of any bond bill by noon on the [39th] 42nd day
148 of the annual general session.
149 (2) Before the calendared closing time of the [39th] 43rd day of the annual general
150 session, the Legislature shall either pass or defeat each bond bill.
151 Section 6. Repealer.
152 This resolution repeals:
153 JR3-2-502, In-depth budget review.