MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

January 27, 2015

Members Present:                Rep. Jack Draxler, Chair

                                                Rep. Brad Daw, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Patrice Arent

                                                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck 

                                                Rep. Fred Cox

                                                Rep. Keith Grover

                                                Rep. Merrill Nelson

                                                Rep. Lee Perry

                                                Rep. Dean Sanpei

                                                Rep. Val Peterson 

Staff Present:                        Mr. Brian Bean, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Kathy Gessel, Committee Secretary

                                                Ms. Linda Error, Committee Secretary

Note:     A list of visitors and handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.

H.B. 51           Voter Eligibility Amendments (Rep. R. C. Webb)

Rep. Webb explained the bill with the assistance of Kate Black, Alta Town Clerk and Cameron Diehl, Utah League of City and Towns. Mr. Diehl distributed a handout, "HB-51 Voter Eligibility Amendments", to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:        Marina Lowe, ACLU

MOTION:     Rep. Nelson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Arent and Rep. Chavez-Houck voting in opposition.

H.B. 60           Campaign Finance Amendments (Rep. Brian S. King)

Rep. King explained the bill.

Spoke for the bill:       Marco Diaz, citizen

                                    Carrie Butler, citizen

                                    Ashley Hoopes, citizen

                                    Jenn Gonnelly, League of Women Voters

                                    Maryann Martindale, Alliance for a Better Utah

A handout, "Poll: Utahns Want Campaign Finance Limits" was distributed to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Chavez-Houck moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 70           Posting Political Signs on Public Property (Rep. B. Daw)

Rep. Daw explained the bill.

Spoke for the bill:       Cameron Diehl, Utah League of Cities and Towns

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to pass bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 97           Election of Officials of New Municipality (Rep. J. Cox)

Rep. Cox explained the bill.

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

H.B. 91           Campaign Contributions Amendments (Rep. K. Powell)

Rep. Powell explained the bill. A handout, "Campaign Contributions Amendments", was distributed.

Spoke for the bill:       Mark Thomas, Lt. Governors Office.

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

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

Chair Draxler adjourned the meeting at 4:07 p.m.

                                                            __________________________

                                                            Rep. Jack Draxler, Chair