MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT &
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 250, Utah State Capitol
February 11, 2015
Members Present: Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair
Sen. Gene Davis
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher
Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart
Sen. Todd Weiler
Staff Present: Mr. Nathan Brady,
Policy Analyst
Ms. Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary
NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed
with the committee minutes.
Chair Madsen called the meeting to order at 3:17 p.m.
MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to approve the
minutes of the February 8, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with
Sen. Thatcher, Sen. Urquhart and Sen. Weiler absent for the vote.
S.B. 96 Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Parent-time Act (Sen. L. Hillyard)
Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to amend the bill as follows:
I.
Page 11, Lines 321 through 323:
321 deploying
parent is unable to exercise that authority, to a nonparent who is an adult
family
322 member of the
child { or an adult} with whom the child has a close and
substantial relationship.
323 If a court
grants the authority to a nonparent, the court shall specify the
decision-making
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Spoke to the bill: Ms. Lorie Fowlke, Chair Legislative Committee, Family Law Section - Bar
Mr. Bill Duncan, Director, Sutherland Institute
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Stewart Ralphs, Director, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
Spoke against the bill: Ms. Dani Hartvigsen, Coalition for Preservation of Family Values
Mr. Dan Deuel, Chairman of Legislative Affairs, National Parents Organization of Utah
MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
S.B. 124 Gang Enhancement Provision Amendments (Sen. D. Thatcher)
Sen. Thatcher explained the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart.
Chair Madsen relinquished the chair to Sen. Weiler.
S.B. 107 Hate Crimes Amendments (Sen. S. Urquhart)
Sen. Urquhart explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke to the bill: Mr. Clifford Rosky, Professor of Law, University of Utah
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Sim Gill, Salt Lake County District Attorney
Mr. Marina Lowe, Legislative and Policy Counsel, ACLU of Utah
Mr. Paul Boyden, Statewide Association of Prosecutors
Dr. Forrest Crawford, Professor, Weber State University, Ogden NAACP
Ms. Jeanetta Williams, President, NAACP Salt Lake Branch
Ms. Jean Hill, Government Liaison, Catholic Diocese
Spoke against the bill: Ms. Laura Bunker, United Families International
Ms. Gayle Ruzicka, Eagle Forum
Mr. Colton Bennett, Intern, Eagle Forum
Ms. Dani Hartvigsen, Coalition for Preservation of Family Values
Mr. Tyler Cope
Mr. Dave Mallinak, Pastor, Berean Baptist Church of Ogden, Utah
MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Weiler voting in opposition and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.
Sen. Weiler adjourned the meeting 5:22 p.m.
________________________
Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair