| Members Present: Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair Rep. Walt Brooks, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Carl R. Albrecht Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion Rep. Bridger Bolinder Rep. Scott H. Chew Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Michael L. Kohler Rep. Thomas W. Peterson | Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Casey Snider Rep. Christine F. Watkins Members Absent: Rep. Steven J. Lund Rep. Doug Owens Speaker Mike Schultz Staff Present: Charley Hart, Policy Analyst Julie Humberstone, Senior Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel Ryan C. Williams, Associate General Counsel Victoria Garcia, 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 Brooks called the meeting to order at 8:36 am. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Bennion moved to approve the minutes of the August 21, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Sen. D. Owens Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. M. Kohler Rep. S. Lund Rep. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| 2.A Performance Audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration |
| Julie Humberstone, Managing Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, introduced and provided background on the performance audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. |
| 2 - Performance Audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration |
| 2 - Audit Review Letter |
| Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, Matthias Boon, Supervisor, and Andrew Poulter, Lead Auditor, Office of the Legislative Auditor General, presented a performance audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration and answered committee questions. |
| 2 - SITLA Map |
| 2 - SITLA Presentation |
| Michelle McConkie, Director, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, addressed the performance audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration and answered committee questions. |
| Warren Peterson, Chair, SITLA Board of Trustees, addressed the performance audit of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration and answered committee questions. |
| 3.Great Salt Lake Commissioner Report |
| 4 - Great Salt Lake Commissioner Report |
| Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner, and Tim Davis, Great Salt Lake Deputy Commissioner, presented the Great Salt Lake Commissioner Report and answered committee questions. |
| Bryce Bird, Director, Division of Air Quality, answered committee questions regarding the Great Salt Lake Commissioner Report. |
| 4.Draft Legislation: State Water Policy Amendments |
| 5a - Draft Legislation "State Water Policy Amendments" V02 |
| Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, introduced draft legislation, "State Water Policy Amendments." |
| 5b - Draft Legislation "State Water Policy Amendments" V03 |
| Rep. Chew presented an alternative version of draft legislation, "State Water Policy Amendments," with proposed language changes. |
| 5.Groundwater Levels |
| 6 - Groundwater Levels Presentation |
| Teresa Wilhelsen, State Engineer and Director, Division of Water Rights, gave a presentation on ground water levels and answered committee questions. |
| Bill Keach, State Geologist and Director, and Hugh Hurlow, Groundwater Program Manager, Utah Geological Survey, gave a presentation on groundwater levels and answered committee questions. |
| 6.Financial Assurances for Mining Operators |
| Mick Thomas, Director, and Dana Dean, Deputy Director, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, presented on financial assurances for mining operators and answered committee questions. |
| MOTION:Rep. Albrecht moved to open a committee bill file to direct the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to conduct a study on bonding modernization. The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Sen. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. S. Lund Rep. D. Owens Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| 7.Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. G. Bennion Sen. N. Blouin Rep. B. Bolinder Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Chew Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. M. Kohler Sen. D. Owens Rep. T. Peterson Sen. S. Sandall Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins | Rep. S. Lund Rep. D. Owens Rep. M. Schultz Rep. C. Snider Sen. E. Vickers |
| Chair Brooks adjourned the meeting at 10:59 am. |