MINUTES OF THE

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 415, Utah State Capitol

February 13, 2015

 

Members Present:     Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair

                                    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

                                    Sen. David P. Hinkins

                                    Sen. Alvin B. Jackson

                                    Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

 

Staff Present:             Rich North, Policy Analyst

                                    Brooke Parrish, Committee Secretary

 

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

 

Chair Dayton called the meeting to order at 3:43 p.m.

 

S.C.R 6        Concurrent Resolution Supporting Vietnam Veterans (Sen. C. Bramble)

 

Sen. Bramble explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Ms. Sharlene Hawkes, President, Remember My Service                 

                                    Mr. Dennis Howland, President, Vietnam Veterans of America Utah Chapter

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.         Page 3, Lines 79 through 82:     


                               79          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United

                               80States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Utah Department of

                               81Veterans' and Military Affairs, the Utah Association of Counties, the Utah League of Cities

                                              and

                               82 Towns,   the Utah Vietnam Veterans of America,  and the members of Utah's

                                              congressional delegation.

 

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

 

MOTION:  Sen. Jackson moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia absent for the vote.

 

S.J.R. 11      Joint Rules Resolution – Purchase of Working Meals (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hillyard moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.         Page 1, Line 27 through Page 2, Line 28:          


             27        (1)  A legislative staff office may purchase a meal for a legislator who is working with

                     28 the staff on legislative duties through a mealtime  subject to the rate limitations provided

                                under Section JR5-2-102  .

 

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

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hillyard moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hillyard moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 159       Background Checks for State Accountants (Sen. D. Henderson)

 

Sen. Henderson explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. John Reidhead, Director, Division of Finance

 

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

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 137       Campaign and Financial Reporting Requirements Revisions (Sen. T. Weiler)

 

Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Mr. Mark Thomas, Chief Deputy/Director of Elections, Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office

 

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

 

H.B. 32        Local Government Disclosure and Campaign Finance Amendments (Rep. J. Draxler)

 

Rep. Draxler explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.         Page 6, Line 167:


             167      contribution and the name of the   {[}  donor  {]}     {contributor}  ;


 

2.         Page 10, Line 298:         


                                   298    (f)  to return all or a portion of a contribution to a   {contributor}    donor  ;

 

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

H.B. 42        Annexation Amendments (Rep. J. Westwood)

 

Rep. Westwood explained the bill to the committee. Mr. Ron Faerber distributed the handout “Vote “NO” on HB 42” to the committee. Mr. Gordon Haight distributed the handout “Dansie Annexation Exhibit” to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.         Page 1, Lines 16 through 18:     


             16 Other Special Clauses:

             17        This bill provides a special effective date.   

             18 Utah Code Sections Affected:


 

 

2.         Page 4, Lines 96 through 97:     


                               96          (A)  the annexation process shall follow the requirements for a specified county; and

                               97          (B)  the provisions of Subsection 10-2-402(6) do not apply.

                                  Section 2.  Effective date.

       If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.

                                     

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

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Cameron Diehl, Director of Government Relations, Utah League of Cities and Towns

                                                Mr. Gordon Haight, Assistant City Manager, Herriman City

 

Spoke against the bill:             Mr. Ron Faerber, Secretary, Association of Community Councils Together

                                               

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably.  The motion passed with Sen. Dayton voting in opposition and Sen. Escamillia and Sen. Jackson absent for the vote.

 

2nd Sub. H.B. 107       Political Issues Committee Amendments (Rep. B. Greene)

 

Rep. Greene explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke against the bill:             Mr. Chase Clyde, Utah Education Association

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia and Sen. Jackson absent for the vote.

 

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

 

Rep. Cox explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Cameron Diehl, Director of Government Relations, Utah League of Cities and Towns

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia and Sen. Jackson absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Escamillia and Sen. Jackson absent for the vote.

 

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

 

Rep. Webb explained the bill to the committee. He distributed the handout “HB-51 Voter Eligibility Amendments” to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Ms. Kate Black, Clerk, Town of Alta

                     Mr. Cameron Diehl, Director of Government Relations, Utah League of Cities and Towns

 

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

 

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

 

Chair Dayton adjourned the meeting at 5:01 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair