MINUTES OF THE

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS INTERIM COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 405 State Capitol



Members Present:

Sen. John W. Hickman, Senate Chair

Rep. Craig W. Buttars, House Chair

Sen. Ron Allen

Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

Sen. Millie M. Peterson

Rep. Eli H. Anderson

Rep. Ron Bigelow

Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman

Rep. Don E. Bush

Rep. Neil A. Hansen

Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson

Rep. Bradley A. Winn

Rep. Peggy Wallace

Members Absent:

President Al Mansell



Staff Present:

Mr. John Q. Cannon, Research Analyst

Mr. John L. Fellows, Associate General Counsel

Ms. Cassandra N. Bauman, Legislative Secretary



Note: A list of others present and a copy of materials can be found at http://image.le.utah.gov/imaging/history.asp or by contacting the committee secretary at 538-1032.



1. Committee Business



Chair Buttars called the meeting to order at 2:29 p.m.



MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2002 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.



2. State Armory Board



Mr. Cannon gave a brief history on the State Armory Board. He discussed the composition and responsibility of the State Armory Board as it relates to transactions of property.



Mr. Kevin Walthers, Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Fiscal Analyst's Office, noted a concern about DFCM (Division of Facilities Construction and Management) and the maintenance needs of armory facilities. He indicated that the Committee could consider the codification of current practice, and referenced Section 39-2-6 of the Utah Code.



General Stanley Gordon, Deputy Adjutant General, Utah National Guard, recommended that Sections 39-2-3 and 39-2-5 be repealed and that current practice be codified. He explained that there is currently a good working relationship between the Armory Board and DFCM. He indicated that the National Guard feels strongly that monies obtained from the sale of armory facilities should be retained in the armory budget. He responded to committee questions.



Committee discussion followed.



Chair Buttars directed staff to prepare draft legislation on the issue for the Committee to review at its next meeting.



3. Governor's Office of Planning and Budget



Mr. Fellows explained that the Utah Code has not been recodified in its entirety since 1950 and the Legislature has directed the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to recodify the Utah Code as needed. He explained that GOPB (Governor's Office of Planning and Budget) is not clearly defined or authorized in the Utah Code and, as part of an ongoing effort to recodify, the Committee may want to address the issue.



Ms. Lynne Ward, Director, GOPB, distributed "Governor's Office of Planning and Budget: Duties and Responsibilities (June 2002)." She explained that the State Olympic Officer and the Chief Information Officer are temporarily part of GOPB.



Committee discussion followed.



MOTION: Rep. Bush moved that staff draft legislation to recodify sections of the Utah Code concerning the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. The motion passed unanimously.



Sen. Hickman assumed position as chair.



4. State Organization Charts



Mr. Cannon indicated that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel has published the "State Organization Charts" every other year. He explained that the Office is evaluating the usefulness of the charts and what formatting or kinds of information would be useful. Committee discussion followed.



MOTION: Rep. Bigelow moved that legislative staff discontinue publication of the State Organization Charts.



Committee discussion and questions followed.



Mr. Ben Christensen, Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, indicated that the publication is distributed to legislators and state agencies and that the information and publication is available to the public.



The motion by Rep. Bigelow failed with Rep. Bigelow and Rep. Bush voting in favor and Sen. Allen and Rep. Buttars absent for the vote.



MOTION: Rep. Hansen moved that the publication continue and, in addition, be published on the internet.



Rep. Bigelow expressed concern about the fiscal implications of publishing the information and maintaining it on the internet.



SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Hendrickson moved that staff study and estimate the costs and possibilities of publishing the information on the internet. The motion failed with Rep. Anderson, Rep. Hansen, and Rep. Henderson voting in favor. Sen. Allen and Rep. Buttars were absent for the vote.



The original motion failed with Sen. Peterson, Rep. Anderson, Rep. Hansen, and Rep. Hendrickson voting in favor. Sen. Allen and Rep. Buttars were absent for the vote.



5. Other Items / Adjourn



Special Session Issues



Rep. Anderson explained that federal legislation is currently being discussed to consider the possible annexation of Wendover, Utah to Nevada. He explained that there is a need for state legislation to assist in the process. He distributed draft legislation "Local Special Election Amendments."



Mr. Mark Bell, attorney, Wendover, Utah, explained that a local consent vote would be required to ensure agreement from the citizens of Wendover, Utah and Wendover, Nevada. He further explained that ballot propositions should be specifically authorized by the state Legislature and indicated that Governor Leavitt has placed this issue on the call for the Fifth Special Session on June 26, 2002.



Mr. Steve Perry, Mayor, Wendover-Utah, explained the benefits of combining the two cities.



Committee discussion and questions followed, including discussion of the airport and the demographics and economics which would be affected by the legislation.



MOTION: Rep. Anderson moved that the Committee recommend the legislation favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Allen absent for the vote.



Mr. Cannon distributed draft legislation "Canvass for Provisional Ballot" and an amendment to Utah Code Section 20A-4-306. Statewide Canvass. He indicated that the Governor has placed the issue on the call for the Fifth Special Session starting June 26, 2002.



MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved that the amendment to section 20A-4-306 be incorporated into the draft legislation and that the Committee recommend the legislation favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Allen absent for the vote.



MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Allen absent for the vote.



Chair Hickman adjourned the meeting at 4:12 p.m.