MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

20 House Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 25, 2015

Members Present:                            Rep. LaVar Christensen, Chair

Rep. Merrill Nelson, Vice Chair

                                                            Rep. Fred C. Cox 

                                                            Rep. Bruce Cutler

                                                            Rep. Brian M. Greene

                                                            Rep. Craig Hall

                                                            Rep. Curtis Oda

                                                            Rep. V. Lowry Snow

                                                            Rep. Kevin J. Stratton

                                                            Rep. Mark A. Wheatley

Members Absent:                             Rep. Brian S. King

Staff Present:                                    Mr. Gregg Girvan, Policy AnalystMs. Linda Black, Committee Secretary

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

Vice Chair Nelson called the meeting to order at 8:16 a.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved to approve the minutes of February 10, 2015, and February 18, 2015. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hall, Rep. King, and Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

H.B. 334         Child and Family Amendments (Rep. L. Christensen)

Rep. Christensen explained 1st Substitute H.B. 334 to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Liz Knight, Director, Office of Guardian ad Litem

                                    Dan Deuel, National Parents of Utah

                                    Brent Platt, Division of Child and Family Services

                                    Karen Clark, Eagle Forum

MOTION:     Rep. Christensen moved to replace H.B. 334 with 1st Substitute H.B. 334. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Hall and Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

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

1.    Page 2, Lines 46 through 48:   

46   [(4)] (3) The division shall notify and inform a child  who is 12 years of age or older, and  who qualifies for restoration of

47parental rights under [Subsections (1)(a) through (c)] Subsection (1) that the child is eligible to

48petition for restoration under this part.

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Hall and Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Snow moved to pass the bill out favorably as substituted and amended. The motion passed with Vice Chair Nelson voting in opposition. Rep. Greene, Rep. Hall and Rep. Stratton were absent for the vote.

H.B. 298         Exemptions Act Amendments (Rep. K. Ivory)

Rep. Ivory explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Clark Aposhian, Chairman, Utah Shooting Sports Council

                                   Louis Gary Welch, citizen

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

1.    Page 8, Lines 220 through 224:      

220 (xvii) except for curio or relic firearms, as defined in Section 76-10-501  , any three of the following  :

221 (A) one handgun and ammunition for the handgun not exceeding 1,000 rounds;

222 (B) one shotgun and ammunition for the shotgun not exceeding 1,000 rounds; and

223 (C) one shoulder arm and ammunition for the shoulder arm not exceeding 1,000

224rounds.

The motion passed with Rep. Cutler voting in opposition. Rep. Greene and Rep. Stratton were absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed with

Rep. Cutler voting in opposition. Rep. Greene and Rep. Stratton were absent for the vote.

H.B. 183         Uniform Powers of Appointment Act (Rep. V. L. Snow)

Rep. Snow explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Robert S. Tippett, Ad Hoc Committee on Legislation of the Estate Planning Section of the Utah State Bar. A handout,

"Uniform Powers of Appointment Act", was distributed to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Steve Dixon, citizen

MOTION:     Rep. Cutler moved to replace H.B. 183 with 1st Substitute H.B. 183. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Stratton and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Cutler moved to pass the bill out favorably as substituted. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Stratton and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

S.B. 115 Assault Offenses Amendments (Sen. D. Thatcher)

Sen. Thatcher explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Jennifer Valencia, Director, Utah Sentencing Commission.

MOTION:     Rep. Cutler moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Stratton and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene, Rep. Stratton and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Nelson adjourned the meeting at 9:52 a.m.

                                                                                                                                   ___________________________________

LaVar Christensen, Chair