Link to Zipped WordPerfect Minutes 7K bytes

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, & ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 445, State Capitol
February 21, 2014

Members Present:    Rep. Mike Noel, Chair
            Rep. Doug Sagers, Vice Chair
            Rep. Roger Barrus
            Rep. Joel Briscoe
            Rep. Mel Brown
            Rep. Kay Christofferson
            Rep. Jack Draxler
            Rep. Susan Duckworth
            Rep. Becky Edwards
            Rep. Steve Handy
            Rep. Ken Ivory
            Rep. John Mathis
            Rep. Mike McKell
            Rep. Merrill Nelson
            Rep. Ryan Wilcox
            Rep. Larry Wiley    

Staff Present:    Mr. J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
            Ms. An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary
    
NOTE:    A list of visitors and handouts are filed with committee minutes

Chair Noel called the meeting to order at 2:19 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Duckworth moved to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2014 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Edwards, Rep. Mathis, and Rep. Wilcox absent for the vote.

H.B. 365    Natural Resources Related Account Repeals (Rep. M. Brown)

Rep. Brown explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson, Rep. Edwards, and Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson, Rep. Edwards, and Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.


H.B. 353    Repeal of Agriculture Conservation Easement Account (Rep. M. Brown)

Rep. Brown explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson, Rep. Edwards, and Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson, Rep. Edwards, and Rep. Mathis absent for the vote.

H.B. 293    Government Immunity Wildlife Waiver Amendments (Rep. M. McKell)

MOTION:    Rep. McKell moved to replace HB293 with 1st Sub. HB293. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson and Rep. Edwards absent for the vote.

1st Sub. H.B. 293    Government Immunity Wildlife Waiver Amendments (Rep. M. McKell)

Rep. McKell explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    Redge Johnson, citizen

Spoke to the bill:    Greg Sheehan, Division of Wildlife Resources

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

1.    Page 5, Lines 129 through 130 :    

             129          (v) injury related to the activity of wildlife
  , as defined in Section 23-13-2,       that arises during the use of a public or

             130      private road.

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

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




S.B. 165    Trial Hunting Authorization (Sen. R. Okerlund)

Sen. Okerlund explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Robin Cahoon, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. A handout, "Increase participation in hunting," was provided.

Spoke for the bill:        Bill Pederson, Utah Shooting Sports Council

Spoke against the bill:    Sandy Krueger, citizen

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

H.B. 121    Air Quality Revisions (Rep. R. Edwards)

Rep. Edwards explained the bill to the committee. Bryce Bird, Division of Air Quality, answered questions from the committee. A handout, "Air Quality Revisions," was provided.

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

1.    Page 2, Line 33 :    

             33          (b) the board finds that the more stringent rule will provide
{   essential   }        reasonable       added protections


2.    Page 2, Lines 35 through 38 :    

             35          (2) The findings described in Subsection (1)(b) shall
  be       :

             36          (a)
{   be   } in writing; and

             37          (b)
{   refer to the   }        based on       evidence, studies, or other information contained in the record      {   that

             38      forms the basis for the board's decision  
}
.

The motion to amend passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson absent for the vote.

Spoke for the bill:    Shelley Teuscher, Utah Industry Environmental Coalition
            Steve Erickson, Utah Audubon Council

Spoke to the bill:    Redge Johnson, citizen

MOTION:    Rep. Duckworth moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended.



SUBSTITUTE MOTION:    Rep. Ivory moved to hold the bill. The motion failed on a voice vote.

The original motion to pass the bill out favorably passed with Rep. Ivory and Rep. Mathis voting in opposition and Rep. Christofferson absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Wilcox moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Christofferson absent for the vote.

Chair Noel adjourned the meeting at 4:04 p.m.





                
            


                

Mike E. Noel, Chair