MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

February 2, 2016

Members Present:                Rep. Jack R. Draxler, Chair

                                                Rep. Brad M. Daw, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Patrice M. Arent

                                                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck 

                                                Rep. Fred C. Cox

                                                Rep. Keith Grover

                                                Rep. Merrill F. Nelson

                                                Rep. Lee B. Perry

Rep. Val L. Peterson

                                                Rep. Dean Sanpei

Staff Present:                        Mr. Brian J. Bean, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Sandra Hash, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2016 meeting. The

                        motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck, Rep. Nelson, Rep.

                        Peterson, and Rep. Sanpei absent for the vote.

H.B. 119         Straight Ticket Voting Amendments (Rep. P. Arent)

Rep. Arent presented the bill with the assistance of Rep. Jeremy Peterson. The handouts "HB 119 - Straight Ticket Voting Amendments" and "A Brief History of Straight Ticket Voting (STV)" were distributed to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:                   Nicole Nelson, League of Women Voters of Utah

                                                Rosanne Mitchell, Elections Director, Salt Lake County

Spoke against the bill:            James Evans, Chair, Utah Republican Party

MOTION:     Rep. Perry moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion failed with Rep.

                        Arent, Rep. Chavez-Houck, Rep. Grover, and Rep. Perry voting in favor.

H.B. 63           Fees for Government Records Requests (Rep. Brian S. King)

This bill was not considered at the meeting.

H.B. 110         Inactive Voter Amendments (Rep. C. Hall)

This bill was not considered at the meeting.

H.B. 158         Campaign Funds Restrictions At County Level (Rep. P. Arent)

Rep. Arent explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Lincoln Shurtz, Utah Association of Counties

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to replace S.B. 158 with 1st Sub. H.B. 158. The motion passed                         unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Chavez-Houck moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion

                        passed unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 3          Joint Rules Resolution Changing an Interim Committee Name (Rep. S. Handy)

Rep. Handy explained the resolution to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Arent moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed                         unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

S.B. 25            Ballot Amendments (Sen. M. Dayton)

Sen. Dayton explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to replace S.B. 25 with 1st Sub. S.B. 25. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to place the bill on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

S.B. 27            Absentee Ballot Amendments (Sen. M. Dayton)

Sen. Dayton explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Mr. Hatch.

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

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved that S.B. 27 be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

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

Chair Draxler adjourned the meeting at 5:02 p.m.

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Jack R. Draxler, Chair