MINUTES OF THE

SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 250, Utah State Capitol

February 23, 2016

 

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 4:10 p.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Weiler moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.    

 

S.B. 77         Medicaid Expansion Proposal (Sen. G. Davis)

 

Sen. Davis explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Paul Gibbs, Executive Committee, LDS Democrats Caucus

                                                Ms. Angela York, Utah Nurses Association

                                                Ms. Elizabeth Klc, Utah Association of Counties

                                                Mr. Scott Hayashi, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Utah

                                                Ms. Aimee McLean, State Director, Utah Nurses Association

 

Spoke against the bill:             Ms. Evelyn Everton, Americans for Prosperity

 

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

 

S.B. 189       Death Penalty Amendments (Sen. S. Urquhart)

 

Sen. Urquhart explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Mr. Thomas Brunker, Utah Attorney General’s Office

 

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Ralph Dellapiana, Chairman, Utah Capital Committee Chair, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

                                                Ms. Jean Hill, Government Liaison, Catholic Diocese

                                                Ms. Jensie Anderson, Rocky Mountain Innocence Center

                     Mr. Kent Hunt, Executive Director, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

                     Mr. David Shapiro, Criminal Defense Attorney

 

Spoke against the bill:             Ms. Maryann Christensen, Utah Eagle Forum

 

MOTION:  Sen. Urquhart moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Hillyard and Sen Weiler voting in opposition.

 

S.B. 181       Judiciary Amendments (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

MOTION:   Sen. Hillyard move to amend the bill as follows:

I.                    Page 5, Lines 126 through 128:         


             126             (i)  In cases where [a minor is facing a felony level offense]   {petitions}    a petition   or information

             127      alleging a felony-level offense is filed, the court shall appoint counsel, who shall appear until

             128      counsel is retained on the minor's behalf.  The minor may not waive counsel unless the minor


 

2.         Page 5, Lines 133 through 134: 


                               133        (ii)  In all other [situations] cases in which  a petition is filed   the right to counsel may not be waived by a

                               134        minor unless there has been a finding on the record, taking into consideration the minor's

 

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:                     Mr. Rick Schwermer, Utah State Courts

 

MOTION:  Sen. Hillyard moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Urquart absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Thatcher moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 192       Study of Claims Exceeding Statutory Limit (Sen. J. Iwamoto)

 

Sen. Iwamoto explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Mr. Steve Sullivan, Attorney

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hillyard, and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

S.B. 187       Reclassification of Misdemeanors (Sen. D. Thatcher)

 

MOTION:   Sen. Thatcher moved the S.B. 187 be replaced with 1st Sub. S.B. 187. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

Sen. Thatcher explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Escamilla moved to reconsider action on S.B. 192. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Escamilla moved S.B. 192 be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis, Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote

 

S.B. 202       Pre-trial Release Amendments (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

This bill was not considered.

 

S.B. 179       Uniform Parentage Act Amendments (L. Hillyard)

 

This bill was not considered.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Davis moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Hillyard and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

Chair Madsen adjourned the meeting 6:03 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair