MINUTES OF THE
JUSTICE COURT REFORM TASK FORCE
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 • 10:00 a.m. • 220 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore, Chair
Rep. Nelson T. Abbott, Chair
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher
Rep. Doug Owens
Eric Bunderson
Eric Clarke
Jim Peters
Tom Ross

Members Absent:
Matt Dixon

Staff Present:
Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst
Jacqueline Carlton, Associate General Counsel
Naomi Garrow, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Rep. Abbott assumed the chair.
Chair Abbott called the meeting to order at 10:08 am.
1.Task Force Business
MOTION:Rep. Owens moved to approve the minutes from the October 4, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
E. Bunderson
E. Clarke
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. D. Owens
J. Peters
Sen. S. Pitcher
T. Ross
M. Dixon
2.Justice Court Reform Proposal and Timeline
2.1 Proposal for Justice Court Reform
2.2 Plan for Justice Court Reform
Senator Cullimore presented the Proposal and Plan for Justice Court Reform.
3.Draft Joint Resolution Supporting Justice Court Reform
3.1 DRAFT LEGISLATION Joint Resolution Supporting Justice Court Reform
Chair Abbott introduced the draft legislation.
Committee discussion.
Chair Abbott opened public comment.
Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, provided public comment.
Further committee discussion.
MOTION:Senator Cullimore moved to favorably recommend Joint Resolution Supporting Justice Court Reform to the Judiciary Interim Committee with amendments to make the resolution less prescriptive, extend the timeline for implementation, and clarify that the implementation will be piloted by two counties as opposed to judicial districts.
Discussion to the motion.
Senator Cullimore moved to favorably recommend Joint Resolution Supporting Justice Court Reform to the Judiciary Interim Committee with the discussed amendments.passed with a vote 8-0-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
E. Bunderson
E. Clarke
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. D. Owens
J. Peters
Sen. S. Pitcher
T. Ross
M. Dixon
4.Draft Committee Bill on Justice Court Reform Task Force Sunset Extension
4.1 DRAFT LEGISLATION - Justice Court Reform Task Force Sunset Extension
Senator Cullimore introduced the draft legislation.
Committee dicussion.
MOTION:Representative Owens moved to amend line 28 to change the repeal date from "July 1, 2026" to "December 31, 2026."
Discussion to the motion.
Representative Owens moved to amend line 28 to change the repeal date from "July 1, 2026" to "December 31, 2026."passed with a vote 8-0-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
E. Bunderson
E. Clarke
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. D. Owens
J. Peters
Sen. S. Pitcher
T. Ross
M. Dixon
MOTION:Representative Owens moved to favorably recommend the draft legislation, as amended, to the Judiciary Interim Committee.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
E. Bunderson
E. Clarke
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. D. Owens
J. Peters
Sen. S. Pitcher
T. Ross
M. Dixon
5.Other Items/Adjourn
Closing remarks.
MOTION:Tom Ross moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. N. Abbott
E. Bunderson
E. Clarke
Sen. K. Cullimore
Rep. D. Owens
J. Peters
Sen. S. Pitcher
T. Ross
M. Dixon
Chair Abbott adjourned the meeting at 11:02 am.