MINUTES OF THE

SENATE BUSINESS AND LABOR STANDING COMMITTEE

215 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Members Present: Sen. Curtis S. Bramble, Chair

Sen. Gene Davis

Sen. Deidre Henderson

Sen. Karen Mayne

Sen. Ralph Okerlund

Sen. Todd Weiler

Members Excused: Sen. J. Stuart Adams

Staff Present: Mr. Bryant Howe, Deputy Director

Ms. Karen Allred, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Bramble called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.

MOTION: Sen. Henderson moved to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2015 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis absent for the vote.

Sen. Mayne assumed the Committee Chair.

S.B. 143 Title and Escrow Modifications (C. Bramble)

Sen. Bramble explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Wade Taylor, President, Utah Land Title Association

Brett Barratt, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Insurance

MOTION: Sen. Bramble moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Bramble moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis absent for the vote.

Sen. Bramble resumed the committee chair.

S. B. 135 Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Firefighters (K. Mayne)

Sen. Mayne explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Jack Tidrow, President, Professional Firefighters of Utah

Fernando Rivero, Fire Captain, Firefighter Cancer Support Network

Dennis Lloyd, Senior Vice President, Workers’ Compensation Fund of Utah, answered questions from the committee.

Sen. Weiler assumed the committee chair.

MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Bramble absent for the vote.

S.B. 131 Occupational Therapists Amendments (G. Davis)

Sen. Davis explained the bill to the committee assisted by Kasey Mitchell, Representative, Utah

Occupational Therapy Association.

MOTION: Sen. Mayne moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Bramble and Sen. Okerlund absent for the vote.

S.B. 127 Transport of Railroad Employees (K. Mayne)

MOTION: Sen. Mayne moved to adopt 1^st Sub. S.B. 127. The motion passed unanimously with Sen Bramble and Sen. Okerlund absent for the vote.

A handout was distributed explaining 1^st Sub. S.B. 127.

Sen. Mayne explained the bill to the committee assisted by Jeff Worthington, Railroad

Engineer, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).

Spoke for the bill: Christine Mellor, Railroad Conductor, UTU

John Farish, Locomotive Engineer, BLET

Kurt Martin, Conductor, United Transportation Union

Rick Staheli, Locomotive Engineer, BLET

Jay Seegmiller, State Legislative Director, SMART-Transportation

Division

Pat Wenslow, Conductor, United Pacific Railroad

Larry Stevenson, Locomotive Engineer, BLET

Danny Brewer, Engineer, United Transportation Union

Spoke against the bill: Jeff Devashrayee, Senior Trial Counsel, Union Pacific Railroad

William Cullen, Regional Vice President, Professional Transportation

Cathy Norris, Government Affairs, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad

MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Bramble, Sen. Henderson and Sen. Okerlund absent for the vote.

H.B. 99 Association Open Meeting Amendments (M. Schultz)

Rep. Schultz explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: John Morris, Home Owners’ Association Attorney

MOTION: Sen. Mayne moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Bramble, Sen. Henderson and Sen. Okerlund absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. absent for the vote.Same absent

Acting Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at p.m.

________________________

Sen. Curtis S. Bramble, Chair