MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND

WORKFORCE SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 20 House Building

March 3, 2016

Members Present:                Rep. Becky Edwards, Chair

                                                Rep. John Westwood, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Sophia DiCaro

                                                Rep. Timothy Hawkes

                                                Rep. Bradley G. Last

                                                Rep. Curt Oda

                                                Rep. Angela Romero

                                                Rep. Scott Sandall

                                                Rep. Robert Spendlove

                                                Rep. Mark Wheatley

Members Absent:                 Rep. Brad R. Wilson

Staff Present:                        Mr. Ryan Hunter, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Glenda Van Wagenen, Committee Secretary

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

Vice Chair Westwood called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.

S.B. 153          Self-reliance Training for Public Assistance Recipients (L. Fillmore)

Senator Fillmore explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Rep. Cutler.

Spoke for the bill:       Josh Daniels, Libertas Institute

MOTION:     Rep. Edwards moved to amend S.B. 153 as follows:

1.    Page 5, Lines 135 through 142

Senate Committee Amendments

       2-17-2016:   

135 (3) The department shall ensure that approved self-reliance training:

136 (a) is designed to help {  participants  }  clients  learn to become financially stable and less

137dependent on government assistance;

138 (b) teaches skills and knowledge that will assist {  a participant  }  clients  in becoming self-reliant;

139 (c) is available at sufficient times and places to enable clients to reasonably complete

140the training; {  and  }

141 (d) is offered at no cost to clients {  .  }  ;

       (e) includes an option for online training; and

       (f) is provided and taught in a manner that is sensitive to the specific needs and challenges of clients, including:

       (i) employment situations and work schedules;

       (ii) health or disability related employment issues;

       (iii) family care responsibilities and schedules; and

       (iv) transportation issues; 

142 (4) Approved self-reliance training may be offered by the department or any of the

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. DiCaro, Rep. Romero, Rep. Sandall, and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Romero, Rep. Sandall, and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Last moved to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Romero, Rep. Sandall, and Rep. Wheatley absent for the vote.

S.B. 103 1st Sub        Strategic Workforce Investments (A. Millner)

Senator Millner explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Thomas Wadsworth, Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Spoke for the bill:       Richard Nelson, Utah Technology Council

                                   Mark McBride, LANDESK Software

                                   Billy Hesterman, Utah Taxpayers Association

A letter from the Utah Technology Council supporting the bill was distributed to the committee.

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

H.B. 431         Affordable Housing Revisions (R. Edwards)

Rep. Edwards explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Matt Sibul, Utah Transit Authority.

Spoke for the bill:       Steve Erickson, Crossroads Urban Center

                                   Bill Tibbitts, Coalition of Religious Communities

MOTION:     Rep. DiCaro moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Oda voting in opposition and Rep. Spendlove absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Oda moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Spendlove absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Westwood adjourned the meeting at 9:45 a.m.

Rebecca Edwards, Chair