| Members Present: Sen. Derrin R. Owens, Senate Chair Rep. Jefferson S. Burton, House Chair Rep. Sandra Hollins, House Vice Chair Sen. Curtis S. Bramble Sen. Wayne A. Harper Sen. Jen Plumb Rep. Cheryl K. Acton Rep. Tyler Clancy Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn Rep. Karianne Lisonbee Rep. Calvin R. Musselman | Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner Rep. Angela Romero Members Absent: Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore Sen. Don L. Ipson Sen. Stephanie Pitcher Rep. James A. Dunnigan Staff Present: Gary R. Syphus, Finance Manager Nate Osborne, Financial Analyst Linda Service, Committee Secretary |
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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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| 1.8:30 AM Call to Order/Approval of Minutes |
| Chair Owens called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. |
| 2.8:35 AM Courts Presentation |
| Ron Gordon, State Courts Administrator, presented an overview of courthouse space and responded to a question from Rep. Musselman related to innovative thinking as it pertains to price per square footage. |
| Ron Gordon continued by reporting on court interpreter needs. Sen. Owens and Rep. Acton asked for clarification regarding qualified and certified licensure and compensation of court interpreters. |
| Ron Gordon noted that they no longer have unobligated ARPA Funds. |
| 3.8:55 AM Conservation Officer's Association |
| Mike Kinghorn, President, Utah Conservation Officer's Association (UCOA), reported that UCOA officers are the only certified peace officers statutorily mandated to protect and preserve wildlife and recreational activities in Utah. Mr. Kinghorn discussed law enforcement officer compensation and wage inequities in the Department of Natural Resources. |
| Wage Comparison Report |
| Several committee members noted the importance of bringing parody to UCOA officers. |
| MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2024 and August 20, 2024 meetings.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. J. Burton Rep. T. Clancy Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. J. Rohner | Sen. C. Bramble Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Sen. S. Pitcher Rep. A. Romero |
| 4.9:30 AM Required Reports |
| Gary Syphus, LFA, reported on the Non-lapsing Balance Report for the committee members consideration. |
| 5b. EOCJ Non Lapsing Balance Report |
| Gary Syphus continued his presentation with Line Item Performance Measures noting that it is required that all agencies have some Line Item performance measures for each one of their Line Items. |
| 5a. All Agencies Performance Measures - All PM Data2 |
| Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, Andrew Poulter, Lead Auditor, and Mathias Boone, Auditor Supervisor, Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG), discussed the report of the Trust System Entities. In an effort to improve oversite over beneficiary spending key findings were formulated by the audit team with recommendations. A discussion followed related to representation of beneficiaries on the SITLA Board or creation of an independent entity to oversee the entire system. |
| 5.9:10 AM Legislative Audit Report: Trust System |
| 4a. OLAG Audit Summary - 2024-12_SMRY |
| 4b. OLAG Audit - Trust System Entities- 2024-12_RPT |
| 4d. Advocacy Office Proposed Motion |
| Brian Dean responded to a question from Rep. Romero asking if the staff could be merged so the advocacy arm would still be there. Director Dean noted it would be a legislative policy decision. |
| Kim Christy, Director, Utah Land Trust Protection and Advocacy Office, presented the agency response stating his support of the audit to increase accountability for beneficiary use of Trust distributions as explained by the auditors, statutorily clarify the role of the office, and formalize the strategic plan. |
| A discussion followed with committee members offering various suggestions as to the direction that should be taken with respect to the Advocacy Office. |
| Sen. Bramble observed that involving beneficiaries in the decision making of disposition of assets is important, however, beneficiaries generally want to see a shorter time period for distribution of their benefit and the Legislature usually wants to take a longer look. Director Christy responded. |
| 6.9:45 AM Funding Item Follow-Up Report and Accountable Process Budget Overview |
| Gary Syphus reported on the Funding Item Follow-up Report Action Items Summary with recommendations. He responded to a question from Rep. Musselman related to re-evaluating TRT to deal with rural counties. How can it be rectified? |
| 6a. EOCJ Funding Item Summary Recommendations |
| Nate Osbourne, LFA, and Gary Syphus reported on the EOCJ Accountable Process Budget Recommendations and Co-Chairs Position with recommendations. |
| 6b. EOCJ Budget Process Recommendations |
| 6c. EOCJ APB Recommendations (expanded) |
| Rep. Burton asked Brett Petersen, Director, Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJS) to give a report on their treatment programs. |
| April Graham delved into the issue of staffing and retention and how they affect programming. |
| 7.10:30 AM Motion Packet and Voting |
| Gary Syphus introduced a set of motions. |
| MOTION:Rep. Burton moved to approve the proposed Performance Measures that were shared under Item #5.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. J. Rohner Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Harper moved that on Item #6 we approve the Accountable Process Budget Recommendations save Items #14 and #24 and we further study those.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. J. Rohner Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher |
| MOTION:Rep. Burton moved to approve the Fiscal Note Funding Item Report as presented at this commission.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner |
| MOTION:Under joint rules 3-2-101 and 3-2-402 Rep. Musselman moved to authorize legislative staff to include the Base Budge Bill for the EOCJ Appropriations Subcommittee the following recommendation to the Executive Appropriations Committee as listed and lifted.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner |
| MOTION:Sen. Harper moved to adopt a revised motion to have the study group also make recommendations to refine or repeal the role of the Trust and Advocacy Office for increased accountability of beneficiary use of Trust distributions consistent with the recent Legislative audit of Utah's Trust System Entities.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. J. Rohner Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher |
| MOTION:Sen. Bramble moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Sen. C. Bramble Rep. J. Burton Sen. W. Harper Rep. S. Hollins Rep. C. Musselman Sen. D. Owens Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero | Rep. T. Clancy Sen. K. Cullimore Rep. J. Dunnigan Rep. M. Gwynn Sen. D. Ipson Rep. K. Lisonbee Sen. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner |
| Chair Owens adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m. |