MINUTES OF THE

SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 250, Utah State Capitol

February 26, 2014

 

Members Present:     Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair

                                    Sen. Patricia W. Jones

                                    Sen. Luz Robles

                                    Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

                                    Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

                                    Sen. Todd Weiler

 

Members Absent:      Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

 

Staff Present:             Mr. Nathan Brady, Policy Analyst

                                    Ms. Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary

 

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

 

Chair Madsen called the meeting to order at 8:29 a.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to approve the minutes of the Feb. 24, 2014 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart, Sen. Robles, and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.    

 

H.B. 287      Arbitration for Dog Bites Amendments (Rep. L. Christensen)

 

Rep. Christensen explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Urquhart moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

H.B. 280      Technical Revisions to Pawnshop Statute (Rep. A. Romero)

 

Rep. Romero explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Weiler moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

 

S.B. 221       Indigent Counsel in Juvenile Court (Sen. T. Weiler)

 

MOTION:   Sen. Weiler moved to replace S.B. 221 with 1st Sub. S.B. 221. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Adam Truup, Association of Counties

 

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart, Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 229       Adoption Act Amendments (Sen. T. Weiler)

 

Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Weiler moved to replace S.B. 229 with 1st Sub. S.B. 229. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles and Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     David Hardy, Attorney, Utah Adoption Council

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Tyler Felt

                                               

Spoke against the bill:             Jason Barnes, Attorney

                                                Donna Pope, Executive Director, Heart to Heart Adoptions

                                                           

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart voting in opposition and Sen. Robles absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 222       Automatic License Plate Reader System Amendments (Sen. T. Weiler)

 

Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Dalane England

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Marina Lowe, Legislative and Policy Counsel, American Civil

                                                Liberties Union

 

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

S.B. 227       Exposure of Children to Pornography (Sen. Weiler)

 

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

I.                    Page 1, Lines 11 through 18: 


             11        Highlighted Provisions:

             12        This bill:

             13        ▸     provides that a district court shall consider, when determining child custody in a

             14        separation or divorce, whether the parent has   intentionally  exposed the child to pornography or

             15        material harmful to a child; and

             16        ▸     provides that a juvenile court shall consider, when determining whether to terminate

             17        a parent's rights, whether the parent has   intentionally  exposed the child to pornography or

             18        material harmful to a minor.


 

2.         Page 2, Lines 43 through 46:     


             43        and nature of the relationship between a parent and child; [and]

             44        (iv)  whether the parent has   intentionally  exposed the child to pornography or material harmful to a

             45        minor, as defined in Section 76-10-1201; and

             46        [(iv)] (v)  those factors outlined in Section 30-3-10.2.


 

3.         Page 5, Lines 123 through 126: 


                                       123        (f)  a history of violent behavior[.]; or

                                       124        (g)  whether the parent has   intentionally  exposed the child to pornography or material harmful to a

                                       125        minor, as defined in Section 76-10-1201.

                                       126               (3)  A parent who, legitimately practicing the parent's religious beliefs, does not provide

 

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

 

Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Dr. Jenny Brown

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Jane Marie Thomlison

                                                Pamela Atkinson, Chair, Utah Coalition Against Pornography

                                                Shelley DeVries, Vice Chairman, Women for Decency

                                                Dalane England, Utah Eagle Forum

 

MOTION:   Sen. Weiler moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

MOTION:   Sen. Jones moved to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Chair Madsen adjourned the meeting at 10:58 a.m.

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair