Draft - Awaiting Formal Approval

                                                            MINUTES OF THE

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

STANDING COMMITTEE

Monday, March 6, 2017 • 9:40 am • 415 State Capitol

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 Ipson called the meeting to order at 9:42 a.m.

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2017, meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.

1. 2nd Sub. H.B. 431 Government Employees Reimbursement Amendments (Quinn, T.)

Rep. Quinn explained the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 431 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.

2. H.B. 429 County Fund Amendments (Hemingway, L.)

Rep. Hemingway explained the bill.

Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, Millcreek City, spoke in favor of the bill.

Brandon Smith, Legislative Research Analyst, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Iwamoto moved to pass H.B. 429 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.

MOTION:     Sen. Iwamoto moved to place H.B. 429 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.

3. H.J.R. 12 Joint Resolution – Congressional Term Limits (Hawkes, T.)

Rep. Hawkes explained the bill.

Philip Blumel, President, US Term Limits, spoke in favor of the bill.

Peter Anderson, Citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Gayle Ruzicka, Eagle Forum, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Sharon Anderson, Citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Thatcher moved to hold H.J.R. 12.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:   Sen. Hinkins moved to pass H.J.R. 12 out favorably. The motion failed with a vote of 2-4-2.

4. 1st Sub. H.B. 349 Ranked Choice Voting (Chavez-Houck, R.)

Rep. Chavez-Houck explained the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Escamilla moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 349 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 349. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.

Sen. Chavez-Houck explained the bill with assistance from Rep. Roberts and Karen Brinson, Election Administration Consultant, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center.

Peter Anderson, Citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.

Kory Holdaway, Lobbyist, spoke in favor of the bill.

Nancy Lord, Citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ricky Hatch, Chair, Clerks Legislative Committee, spoke in opposition to the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 349 out favorably. The motion failed with a vote of 3-3-2.

5. 1st Sub. H.B. 159 Amendments to Voter Registration (Handy, S.)

Rep. Handy explained the bill.

Brian Mckenzie, Davis County Clerk/ Auditor's Office, spoke to the bill.

Mark Thomas, Lt. Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.

Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Ronald Mortensen, Citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk Auditor, spoke in favor of the bill.

Kory Holdaway, Voterize, spoke in favor of the bill.

Brian Mckenzie, Davis County Clerk Auditor, spoke to the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Thatcher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 159 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-2.

6. H.B. 284 Student Right to Active Counsel (Coleman, K.)

Rep. Coleman explained the bill.

Spencer Jenkins, Board of Regents, spoke to the bill.

Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Steve Burton, Attorney, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:     Sen. Dayton moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-3.

Chair Ipson adjourned the meeting at 11:48 a.m.

___________________________________

               Sen. Don Ipson, Chair