MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

February 11, 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. Val Peterson 

Members Absent:                 Rep. Dean Sanpei

Staff Present:                        Mr. Brian Bean, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Kathy Gessel, Committee Secretary

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

Vice Chair Daw called the meeting to order at 3:54 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2015 and February 6, 2015 meetings. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Grover, Rep. Nelson and Rep. Draxler absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 15        Joint Rules Resolution on Legislative Review Notes (Rep. K. Ivory)

Rep. Ivory explained the resolution.

MOTION:     Rep. Draxler moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Arent, Rep. Chavez-Houck and Rep. Cox voting in opposition.

H.B. 220         Vote by Mail Amendments (Rep. R. Chavez-Houck)

Rep. Chavez-Houck explained the bill.

Spoke to the bill:        Mark Thomas, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Chad Mortensen, National Association of Letter Carriers

Spoke for the bill:       Ann O'Connell, League of Women Voters

MOTION:     Rep. Grover moved to pas the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Grover moved to place H.B. 220 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 219         Election Day Voter Registration Pilot Project Amendments (Rep. R. Chavez-Houck)

Rep. Chavez-Houck explained the bill and a handout, "H.B. 156 Election Day Voter Registration Pilot Project" was distributed to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:        Brian McKenzie, Election Manager, Davis County

Spoke for the bill:       Brian McKenzie, Election Manager, Davis County

                                    Mark Thomas, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

MOTION:     Rep. Grover made a motion to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 248         Campaign Finance Reporting Revisions (Rep. C. Hall)

Rep. Hall explained the bill and an untitled handout was distributed to the committee.

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

H.B. 120         Campaign Financial Disclosures (Rep. C. Hall)

Rep. Hall explained the bill.

Spoke to the bill:        Arie VanDeGraff, Utah Association of Counties

                                    Mark Thomas, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Spoke for the bill:       Arie VanDeGraff, Utah Association of Counties

MOTION:     Rep. Draxler moved to replace H.B. 120 with 1st Sub. H.B. 120, Modifications to Election Law. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Chavez-Houck moved to pass 1st Sub. H.B. 120 out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Peterson voting in opposition.

H.B. 233         Military Education Amendments (Rep. C. Oda)

Rep. Oda explained the bill with the assistance of Gary Harter, Executive Director, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.

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

1.    Page 5, Lines 124 through 125:      

124 (i) evidence of eligibility under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 30, Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active

125Duty Educational Assistance Program  or Chapter 33, Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Program  ;

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

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

H.B. 280         Utah National Guard Command Structure Amendments (Rep. V. Peterson)

Rep. Peterson explained the bill.

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

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to place H.B. 280 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Grover moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Vice Chair Daw adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

__________________________

Rep. Jack Draxler, Chair