| Members Present: Sen. Wayne A. Harper, Chair Rep. Cheryl K. Acton, Chair Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Lincoln Fillmore Rep. Kay J. Christofferson Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost Rep. Rosemary T. Lesser Rep. Thomas W. Peterson Rep. Candice B. Pierucci | Members Absent: Sen. Jen Plumb Sen. Todd D. Weiler Rep. Brady Brammer Rep. Joseph Elison Rep. Doug Owens Staff Present: Sarah Flanigan, Policy Analyst Andrea Valenti Arthur, Managing Associate General Counsel Alan Houston, Associate General Counsel Victoria Firmage, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Harper called the meeting to order at 2:41 p.m. |
| 1.Sunset Review: Expanded Fertility Treatment Coverage Pilot Program |
| Chet Loftis, Managing Director, Public Employees' Health Program (PEHP), presented on the Expanded Fertility Treatment Pilot Program. |
| 3a. Expanded Fertility Treatment Coverage Pilot Program and PEHP Updates Presentation |
| The committee asked questions of Chet Loftis and they responded. |
| MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved to open a committee bill file to transition the Expanded Fertility Treatment Coverage Pilot Program to a permanent program provided by PEHP. The motion passed with a vote of 9-1-5. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Christofferson Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. W. Harper Rep. R. Lesser Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci | Sen. L. Fillmore | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. J. Elison Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. T. Weiler |
| 2.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to approve the minutes of the June 12, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Christofferson Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. W. Harper Rep. R. Lesser Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. J. Elison Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. T. Weiler |
| 3.Public Employees' Health Program (PEHP) Updates |
| Chet Loftis presented updates to the PEHP program. |
| 3a. Expanded Fertility Treatment Coverage Pilot Program and PEHP Updates Presentation |
| The committee asked questions of Chet Loftis and they responded. |
| 4.Review of the Utah Innovation Lab |
| Gabi Tellez, Director, Innovation and Commercialization, Utah System of Higher Education, Dan Hemmert, Partner, Hemmco Inc., Christian Iverson, Director of Tech Transfer, Utah State University, and Cyd Tetro, CEO, Brandless Inc., presented the review of the Utah Innovation Lab. |
| 4. Utah Innovation Lab Presentation |
| The committee asked questions of Gabi Tellez and they responded and continued with the presentation. |
| Chair Harper asked questions of Gabi Tellez and they responded. |
| The committee discussed further action to be taken for the Utah Innovation Lab. Sarah Flanigan, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel responded to questions. |
| MOTION:Rep. Dailey-Provost moved to open a committee bill file to add the Utah Innovation Lab as an independent entity of the committee. The committee discussed further and Gabi Tellez and Dan Hemmert provided more comments. |
| Rep. Dailey-Provost withdrew the motion to open a committee bill file to add the Utah Innovation Lab as an independent entity of the committee. |
| Chair Harper provided further information regarding what committees the Utah Innovation Lab would report to as stated in the Utah Code. The committee decided to reevaluate the Utah Innovation Lab becoming an independent entity at a future time. |
| 5.Draft Legislation: Utah Communications Authority Modifications |
| Alan Houston, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, presented draft legislation: "Utah Communications Authority Modifications" (2024FL--0652/008). |
| 5. Utah Communications Authority Modifications V8 |
| MOTION:Rep. Dailey-Provost moved to recommend as a committee bill, "Utah Communications Authority Modifications."The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. W. Harper Rep. R. Lesser Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. J. Elison Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. T. Weiler |
| 6.Sunset Review: Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority |
| Sarah Flanigan presented on heritage railroads throughout the country and policy options for the committee. |
| 6a. Heritage Railroads Presentation |
| Mark Nelson, Executive Director, Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority, presented details of the current ownership model of the Heber Valley Railroad. |
| 6b. Heber Valley Historic Railroad Presentation |
| Steve Farrell, Chair, Wasatch County Council, Celeste Johnson, Mayor, Midway, and Tom Jacobson, Chair, Heber Valley Historic Railroad Advisory Board, provided additional comments. |
| Chair Harper restated the options going forward for the Heber Valley Historic Railroad as an independent entity of the committee. |
| MOTION:Rep. Acton moved to open a committee bill file to allow the Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority to remain an independent entity by extending the sunset of the Heber Valley Historic Railroad for an additional five years. The committee discussed the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. W. Harper Rep. R. Lesser Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. J. Elison Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. T. Weiler |
| 7.Updated Actuarial Calculations and Contribution Rates for Fiscal Year 2025 |
| Dan Anderson, Executive Director, Utah Retirement Systems (URS), and Danny White, Senior Consultant and Regional Director, Gabriel, Roeder, Smith and Company, presented on actuarial calculations and contribution rates for fiscal year 2025. |
| 8a. Updated Actuarial Calculations and Contributions FY25 |
| Rep. Dailey-Provost asked a question of Danny White and they responded and continued with the presentation. |
| Chair Harper commented and Danny White continued with the presentation. |
| Dan Anderson and Danny White explained changes to contribution rates for fiscal year 2025. |
| 8c. FY25 T2 Prelim Contribution Rates |
| Chair Harper provided additional comments. Rep. Acton asked a question of Danny White and they responded and continued the presentation. |
| 8b. FY25 T1 Prelim Contribution Rates |
| 8.Post-retirement Reemployment Proposal |
| Sarah Flanigan presented post-retirement reemployment models in other states throughout the country. |
| 9. Post-Retirement Reemployment - Other States |
| Rep. Acton introduced possible changes to be made to the current post-retirement reemployment model in Utah. |
| Dee Larson, General Counsel, URS, presented on post-retirement reemployment models throughout the country. |
| The committee commented and asked questions of Dee Larsen and they responded. |
| 9.Other Items/Adjourn |
| Chair Harper summarized the committee bills that are currently open to be discussed in the November meeting. |
| MOTION:Rep. Dailey-Provost moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. W. Harper Rep. R. Lesser Rep. T. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. K. Christofferson Rep. J. Elison Rep. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Sen. T. Weiler |
| Chair Harper adjourned the meeting at 5:29 p.m. |