MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 445, State Capitol

March 2, 2016

Members Present:                Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair

                                                Rep. Douglas V. Sagers, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Joel K. Briscoe

                                                Rep. Melvin R. Brown

                                                Rep. Scott H. Chew

                                                Rep. Susan Duckworth

                                                Rep. Stephen G. Handy

                                                Rep. Timothy D. Hawkes

                                                Rep. Mike K. McKell

                                                Rep. Derrin Owens

                                                Rep. Kraig Powell

                                                 Rep. Scott D. Sandall

                                                Rep. Mike Schultz 

Members Excused:          Rep. Michael E. Noel

Staff Present:                        J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst

An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Perry called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Duckworth moved to approve the minutes of the March 1, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. McKell and Rep. Owens absent for the vote.

H.B. 430         Hole in the Rock State Park Designation (Rep. K. Stratton)

Rep. Stratton explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Leland Pollock and Dell Lefevre, Garfield County Commissioners.

Spoke for the bill:       Kory Holdaway, citizen

Spoke to the bill:        Eric Stucki, State Parks

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

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to place H.B. 430 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

H.C.R. 16       Concurrent Resolution on Utah Public Lands (Rep. K. Stratton)

Rep. Stratton explained the resolution to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Briscoe and Rep. Duckworth voting in opposition.

H.J.R. 20        Joint Resolution Approving Class V Landfill (Rep. L. Perry)

Rep. Perry explained the resolution to the committee with the assistance of Craig Smith, Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC. Two maps were distributed to the committee.

Spoke against the resolution: Paul Rogers, Republic Services

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 115         Beekeeping Modifications (Rep. M. Roberts)

The bill was previously heard and amended in the February 17, 2016 meeting and was held with a vote. Rep. Roberts explained a substitute bill to the committee and provided a PowerPoint presentation. Jodi Hoffman, Utah League of Cities and Towns, answered questions from the committee.

Spoke against the bill:            Joey Caputo, Department of Agriculture and Food

                                                Kurt Stembridge, citizen

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to replace H.B. 115 with 1st Sub. H.B. 115. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hawkes and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Duckworth moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 7, Lines 182 through 183:      

182regulation, or resolution prohibiting a property owner from establishing or maintaining {   an

183apiary  }  a colony  on the property owner's property.

The motion to amend passed unanimously with Rep. Hawkes and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to further amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 3, Line 62:  

62   (g) [Registration shall be renewed] A person who raises bees {  may  }  and is required to register under Subsection (1)(a) shall  renew the person's

The motion to amend passed with Rep. Sagers voting in opposition Rep. Hawkes and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

Chair Perry assumed the chair.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to further amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 41:  

41 {  more than five colonies of  } bees in the state  of Utah  shall register with the department.

2.    Page 3, Lines 64 through 65:   

64    {  (h) A person who is exempt from registration may voluntarily register and receive

65inspections, educational training, or other information from the department.  }

The motion to amend passed with Rep. Duckworth, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Sandall voting in opposition and Rep. Hawkes, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Duckworth moved to move to the next item on the agenda.

SUBSTITUTE

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to pass 1st Sub. H.B. 115 out favorably as amended. The motion failed with Rep. Brown, Rep. Duckworth, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Sandall voting in favor and Rep. Hawkes, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote. Chair Perry indicated the committee would move to the next item on the agenda.

H.B. 144         Food Freedom Act (Rep. M. Roberts)

Rep. Roberts explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Lyle Williams, citizen, and provided video and PowerPoint presentations.

MOTION:     Rep. Powell moved to replace H.B. 144 with 1st Sub. H.B. 144. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Hawkes, Rep. McKell, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Sandall moved to return the bill to the Rules Committee. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Hawkes, Rep. McKell, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

Rep. Roberts requested the bill be added to the list of bills for possible interim study.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Handy, Rep. Hawkes, Rep. McKell, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Schultz absent for the vote.

Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m.

Lee B. Perry, Chair