MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE Room 30, House Building

February 23, 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. Merrill F. Nelson Rep. Lee B. Perry Rep. Val L. Peterson Rep. Dean Sanpei

Members Absent:                 Rep. Keith Grover

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

Ms. Linda Service, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m

Vice Chair Daw assumed the chair.

H.B. 313         Redistricting Provisions (Rep. R. Chavez-Houck)

Rep. Chavez-Houck explained the bill with the assistance of Dr. Tim Chambless, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Utah. Rep. Chavez-Houck distributed "Bookings, FIXGOV, Making Government Work" and a document regarding redistricting commissions in other states.

Spoke for the bill:

Ms. Nicola Nelson, League of Women Voters of Utah Ms. Jenny Pathak, Represent Me Utah Mr. Randy Miller, founder, Utah League of Independent Voters

MOTION:     Rep. Nelson moved to pass the bill out favorably.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Arent moved to send H.B. 313 to the House Rules Committee with a recommendation that the bill be referred for interim study. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Draxler and Rep. Peterson absent for the vote.

H.B. 338         Juneteenth Holiday Observance (Rep. S. Hollins)

Rep. Hollins explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Omar Sawyer, Project Success Coalition. Rep. Hollins distributed "H.B. 338 - Juneteenth Holiday Observance."

Spoke for the bill:

Dr. Forrest Crawford, Professor, Weber State University Ms. Diane Lovell, Alpha Capa Alpha sorority Mr. Burton Johnson, citizen Ms. Pat Washington, Delta Sigma Theta sorority

MOTION:     Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Peterson voting in opposition and Rep. Draxler and Rep. Sanpei absent for the vote.

H.B. 351         Attorney General Fiscal Amendments (Rep. S. DiCaro)

Rep. DiCaro explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Werner Haidenthaller, Administration/Budget Director, Office of the Attorney General.

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

H.B. 366         Attorney General Amendments (Rep. E. Hutchings)

Rep. Hutchings explained the bill with the assistance of Mr. Werner Haidenthaller.

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

MOTION:     Rep. Draxler moved to place H.B. 366 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Sanpei absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Chavez-Houck moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Sanpei absent for the vote. Vice Chair Draw adjourned the meeting at 9:35 a.m.

_________________________Rep. Jack R. Draxler, Chair