MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

STANDING COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 • 4:10 p.m. • 30 House Building

Note: A list of others present, a copy of related materials, and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at le.utah.gov.

Chair Thurston called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2017 and February 21, 2017 meetings.

The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-5.

1. H.B. 391 Driver License Revisions (Quinn, T.)

Rep. Tim Quinn presented the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. McCay moved to pass H.B. 391 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.

MOTION:     Rep. McCay moved to place H.B. 391 on the Consent Calendar.

The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-3.

2. H.B. 314 Election Law Revisions (Stratton, K.)

Rep. Keven J. Stratton presented the bill.

Mr. Ryan Cowley, Elections Director, Weber County, spoke to the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to replace H.B. 314 with 1st Substitute H.B. 314.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.

MOTION:     Rep. V. Peterson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 314 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.

3. H.B. 295 Candidate Filing Amendments (Ward, R.)

Rep. Raymond P. Ward presented the bill.

Mr. Tyler Moss, attorney, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill.

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

The motion passed with a vote of 7-2-1.

4. H.B. 348 Voter Records Amendments (Edwards, R.)

Rep. Rebecca P. Edwards presented the bill with the assistance of Ms. Amy Jo Curtis, victim advocate, Salt Lake and Utah Counties.

Mr. Mark Thomas, Director of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, spoke to the bill.

Mr. Brendan Phillips, resident, Stansbury Park, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Peter Corroon, Chair, Utah Democratic Party, spoke to the bill.

Mr. Ronald Mortenson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ms. Erin Jemison, Public Policy Director, YWCA Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. J. Peterson moved to hold H.B. 348.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.

5. H.B. 372 Candidate Replacement Amendments (Arent, P.)

Rep. Arent presented the bill with the assistance of Mr. Scott Howell, former State Senator, and Mr. Justin Lee, Deputy Director of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Mr. Arie Van De Graaff, Utah Association of Counties, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Cameron Diehl, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Perry moved to amend H.B. 372 with Amendment #1:

1.    Page 2, Lines 39 through 43:   

39   (2) An election officer shall

40certifying the next available candidate for the office for the general election ballot who

41received the highest number of votes in the primary election without receiving a sufficient

42number of votes to qualify for the general election ballot

43   Section 2. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:

The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.

MOTION:     Rep. Perry moved to pass H.B. 372 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-2.

6. H.B. 349 Ranked Choice Voting (Chavez-Houck, R.)

Rep. Chavez-Houck presented the bill with the assistance of Rep. Marc K. Roberts.

Mr. Arie Van De Graaff, Utah Association of Counties, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Lowell Nelson, resident, Utah County, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Jim Higbee, resident, Centerville City, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. David Berg, resident, Salt Lake City, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Brendan Phillips, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ms. Nancy Lord, former committeewoman, Republican National Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Dave Duncan, resident, Orem, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ms. Kathryn Gritten, resident, Sandy, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Caleb Horlacher, resident, Riverton, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. J. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 349 out favorably.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-1.

MOTION:     Rep. V. Peterson moved to adjourn.

The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-1.

Chair Thurston adjourned the meeting at 6:18 p.m.

__________________________________________

Rep. Jeremy A. Peterson, Chair