MINUTES OF THE

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 415, Utah State Capitol

March 6, 2015

 

Members Present:     Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair

                                    Sen. Luz Escamilla

                                    Sen. David P. Hinkins

                                    Sen. Alvin B. Jackson

                                    Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

 

Members Absent:      Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

 

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 Hinkins called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2015 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dayton and Sen. Jackson absent for the vote.    

 

H.B. 216 Sub. 2          Workplace Abusive Conduct Amendments to Promote a Healthy Workplace (Rep. K. Stratton)

 

Sen. Hinkins relinquished the Chair to Sen. Dayton.

 

Rep. Stratton explained the bill to the committee. The handout “Postcards” were distributed to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Ms. Lauren Scholnick, Attorney

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Ms. Denise Howardson, citizen

                                                Mr. Travis Ackermann, citizen

                                                Mr. Todd Losser, Utah Public Employees’ Association        

 

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

 

H.B. 341      Constitutional Debt (Rep. J. Knotwell)

 

Rep. Knotwell explained the bill to the committee.  

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hinkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed with Sen. Escamilla voting in opposition.

 

H.B. 239      Human Resource Management Market Research Amendments (Rep. E. Hutchings)

 

Rep. Hutchings explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Ms. Debbie Cragun, Executive Director, Department of Human Resource Management

 

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

 

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

 

H.B. 368      Executive Office Compensation (Rep. B. Wilson)

 

Rep. Wilson explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Rodger Tew, Chair, Executive and Judicial Compensation Commission           

 

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

 

H.B. 340      Voter Preregistration Amendments (Rep. J. Cox)

 

Rep. Cox explained the bill to the committee.

 

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

                                                Mr. Arie Van De Graaff, Utah Association of Counties

 

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

 

H.B. 306      Fees for Government Records Requests (Rep. Brian S. King)

 

Rep. King explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Ms. Patricia Smith-Mansfield, Utah State Archivist

 

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

 

H.B. 338      Resolving Government Record Disputes (Rep. R. Chavez-Houck)

 

Rep. Chavez-Houck explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Mr. John Dougall, Utah State Auditor

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Chair Dayton adjourned the meeting at 9:29 a.m.

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Margaret Dayton, Chair