MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

20 House Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 13, 2015

Members Present:                            Rep. LaVar Christensen, Chair

Rep. Fred C. Cox

                                                            Rep. Bruce Cutler

                                                            Rep. Brian M. Greene

                                                            Rep. Craig Hall

                                                            Rep. Brian S. King

                                                            Rep. Curtis Oda

                                                            Rep. V. Lowry Snow

Members Absent:                             Rep. Merrill Nelson, Vice Chair

                                                            Rep. Kevin J. Stratton 

                                                            Rep. Mark A. Wheatley

Staff Present:                                    Mr. Gregg Girvan, Policy AnalystMs. Linda Black, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Christensen called the meeting to order at 3:55 p.m.

H.B. 105         Antidiscrimination Modifications (Rep. J. Miller)

Rep. Miller explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:                   Michelle McOmber, CEO, Utah Medical Association

                                                Jennifer Dailey, Utah Academy of Family Physicians

                                                Stephanie Pitcher, citizen

                                                Michelle Scharf, citizen

Spoke against the bill:            Dorothy Bradford, United Women Forum

Spoke to the bill:                    Marina Lowe, ACLU of Utah

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to replace H.B. 105 with 1st Substitute H.B. 105, Antidiscrimination Modifications. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Greene absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to pass the bill out favorably as substituted. The motion passed with Rep. Oda and Chair Christensen voting in opposition.

H.B. 109         Expungement of Administrative Action (Rep. B. Greene)

Rep. Greene explained 1st Substitute H.B. 109 to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Greene moved to replace H.B. 109 with 1st Substitute H.B. 109, Expungement of Administrative Action. The motion passed unanimously.

Spoke against the bill:            Todd Kiser, Commissioner, Utah Insurance Department

                                                Mark Steinagel, Director, Division of Professional Licensing

MOTION:     Chair Christensen moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 16, Lines 487 through 489:    

487 (1) "Administrative expungement" or "expunge" means to {  not allow public access  }  no longer make a qualifying record available to the public  ,

488including through an agency controlled website or other electronic means {  ,  }  .  {   to agency records  }

489 {  regarding the agency's disciplinary action against an eligible petitioner.  }

2.    Page 17, Lines 503 through 506:    

503 (4)  (a)  "Qualifying record" means a record of an agency that the agency makes available to

504the public, including through an agency controlled website or other electronic means, regarding

505disciplinary action that was a final agency action at least three years before an eligible

506petitioner applies to the agency for expungement of the record under this part.

 (b) "Qualifying record" does not include written minutes, a recording, or any other record created in compliance with Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.  

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

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Snow absent for the vote.

H.C.R. 2         Concurrent Resolution Designating Religious Freedom Day (Rep. Brian S. King)

Rep. King explained the resolution to the committee.

MOTION:      Chair Christensen moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 33 through 34:   

33   WHEREAS, the right to religious freedom as defined by Jefferson and Madison is

34fundamental to the success of a {  democratic  }  constitutional  republic;

2.    Page 2, Lines 35 through 39:   

35   WHEREAS, the state of Utah was founded upon the principles of respect for the   religious  beliefs  or non-beliefs 

36of all persons, {  be they Christian or Jewish, Muslim or Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh, atheist or

37agnostic  }  and the state constitution expressly provides since statehood in 1896 that "perfect toleration of religious sentiment is guaranteed" (Article III) and all citizens of this state shall enjoy equally all religious rights and privileges (Article IV)  ;

38   WHEREAS, {  millions of  } people from all parts of the world have come to  the United States of America and  Utah fleeing

39religious persecution;

3.    Page 2, Line 51:  

51and championed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison  , and the enduring religious freedom guaranteed in the United States and Utah constitutions  .

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

MOTION:     Chair Christensen moved to pass the resolution out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hall absent for the vote.

H.B. 183         Uniform Powers of Appointment Act (Rep. V. L. Snow)

This bill was not heard.

H.B. 143         Prohibition on Tattooing of Minors (Rep. L. Christensen)

This bill was not heard.

H.B. 277         Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions (Rep. K. Ivory)

This bill was not heard.

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

Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting at 6:28: p.m.

                                                                                                                                   ___________________________________

LaVar Christensen, Chair