| Members Present: Sen. Ronald Winterton, Chair Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derek L. Kitchen Sen. Ralph Okerlund Sen. Scott D. Sandall Rep. Patrice M. Arent Rep. Walt Brooks Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Kay J. Christofferson Rep. Joel Ferry | Rep. Carol Spackman Moss Rep. Marie H. Poulson Rep. Jeffrey D. Stenquist Members Absent: Rep. Ken Ivory Rep. Keven J. Stratton Staff Present: Ms. Sarah J. Balland, Policy Analyst Ms. Shannon C. Halverson, Associate General Counsel Ms. Cherish Cosman, Administrative Assistant |
||
|
Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the
meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
|
| Chair Albrecht called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. |
| 1. Committee Business |
| Chair Albrecht excused absent members of the committee. |
| Members of the committee introduced themselves. |
| MOTION: Sen. Okerlund moved to approve the minutes from the June 16, 2019 and July 31, 2019 meetings. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays-0 | Abs-6 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. P. Arent Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. K. Christofferson Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. R. Okerlund Sen. S. Sandall Rep. J. Stenquist Sen. R. Winterton | Rep. J. Ferry Rep. K. Ivory Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. C. Moss Rep. M. Poulson Rep. K. Stratton |
| 2. Department of Technology Services Chief Information Officer Report |
| 2 - Utah Department of Technology Services, DTS |
| 2 - Utah Department of Technology Services, DTS |
| Mike Hussey, Executive Director/ Chief Information Officer, Utah Department of Technology Services, presented the background, accomplishments, rates, and goals of Utah Department of Technology Services and responded to committee questions. |
| 3. Flushable Wipes in Sewer Lines and Water Treatment Plants |
| 3 - Flushable Wipes in Sewer Pipes and Wastewater Treatment Plants, Central Davis Sewer District |
| Jill Jones, District Manager, Central Davis Sewer District, presented financial challenges, flow issues, and other problems flushable wipes cause to sewer lines and water utilities and answered committee questions. |
| Leland Myer, Executive Director, Wasatch Front Water Quality Council, responded to questions from the committee. |
| Ashley Peck, Partner, Holland and Hart, answered committee questions followed by committee discussion. |
| 4. Heavy-Duty Equipment Emissions and Emissions Control Options |
| 4a - Heavy-Duty Equipment Emissions and Emission Control Options, Utah Department of Environmental Quality |
| Glade Sowards, Policy Analyst, Division of Air Quality, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, presented Utah's emissions source inventory, air quality challenges, existing controls, and further control options and responded to questions from the committee. |
| Nathan Anderson, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad, answered committee questions. |
| 4b - Environmental Benefit of Rail, Union Pacific Railroad |
| Nathan Anderson presented information regarding fuel use, consumption and emissions, the environmental benefits of rail, and responded to committee questions. |
| Glade Sowards answered further questions from the committee. |
| Sen. Winterton assumed the chair. |
| 5. Universal Public Telecommunications Service Support Fund Cap |
| Jordan White, Commissioner, Utah Public Service Commission (PSC), presented background of the Universal Service Fund, detailed the processes of the PSC in administrating the Fund, and responded to committee questions. |
| 5a - In Support of a Cap on the Utah Universal Service Fund, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association |
| Lisa McCabe, Director of State Legislative Affairs, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, presented her testimony in favor of a cap on the Universal Service Fund, concerns regarding the Fund, and answered questions from the committee. |
| Jordan White returned to answer questions from the committee. |
| Tara Thue, President, Mountain West States, AT&T External and Legislative Affairs, presented the background of the broadband conversation and challenges, gave testimony in favor of a cap and further monitoring of the Fund, and responded to questions from the committee. |
| Jordan White answered committee questions followed by committee discussion, reiterating that the PSC does not make policy, but follows policies set forth in statute by the Legislature. |
| 5b - Utah Universal Service Fund, Utah Rural Telecom Association |
| Douglas Meredith, Director of Economics and Policy for JSI, LLC, Utah Rural Telecom Association (URTA), explained URTA's recommendations for taking no action on the Fund this year, presented background and support for the recommended actions, and responded to committee questions. |
| Michelle Beck, Office of Consumer Services, expressed neither support nor opposition to the policy recommendations before the committee regarding the Fund, but urged the committee to be mindful of costs to customers through any legislative action it takes, and to convey specific legislative priorities to the PSC through such legislation. |
| Brock Johansen, CEO and General Manager, Emery Telecom, commented on annual audits for telecom companies and their results, accessible maps that list services available, impacts of federal requirements, and responded to committee questions. |
| Rep. Albrecht assumed the chair. |
| 6. Electrical Grid Resiliency |
| Mike Squires, Government Affairs Director, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, commented on planning, infrastructure, capacity, and natural disaster factors of grid resiliency. |
| 6b - Rocky Mountain Power Wildfire Mitigation, Rocky Mountain Power |
| Jon Cox, Vice President, Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Power, presented the impacts of wildfires on the electric industry and the steps Rocky Mountain Power has taken for wildfire mitigation. |
| Brian Cottam, Director/State Forester, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, detailed the partnerships and cooperation between the Division and utilities for wildfire risk mitigation and responded to committee questions. |
| MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays-0 | Abs-3 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. P. Arent Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. J. Ferry Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. D. Kitchen Rep. C. Moss Sen. R. Okerlund Rep. M. Poulson Rep. J. Stenquist Sen. R. Winterton | Rep. K. Ivory Sen. S. Sandall Rep. K. Stratton |
| Chair Winterton adjourned the meeting at 11:18 a.m. |