Fiscal Highlights - June 2015

Legislative Action May Reduce the Number of Statutorily Required Reports - Steven M. Allred ( PDF)

One of the directions given by legislative leadership to committee chairs this interim is to look at ways to eliminate statutorily required fees and reports. The intent of doing so is to enhance the committees' flexibility. 
Removing fees from statute allows appropriations subcommittees to review and approve them each year in an appropriations act. Over the years, new reporting requirements are gradually added to statute. As these requirements build up, the burden of reviewing them could impinge on a committee's ability to accomplish more urgent assignments.
The Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC) is undergoing the same review. We recently reviewed statute and rule, and found 41 required reports to be submitted to the committee, with 15 of them required to be given regularly (mostly annually) and the remaining studies to be given once (by a scheduled date) or only when certain conditions are met.
In order to maximize the EAC's flexibility and time to hear needed reports in a timely fashion, the Analyst recommended amending the provisions of 16 reports by moving or deleting them. The committee approved a motion during its June meeting to have the Analyst work with the committee chairs to begin drafting the necessary legislation. Of course, some reports may be added to or taken from the list as we move forward.
The EAC chairs emphasized their preference is to delete nonessential reports. We've already asked the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to open bill files.
June 2015 Content ( PDF)

Higher Education Enrollment Projections - Spencer C. Pratt
The Utah State Board of Regents recently adopted enrollment projections for the eight colleges and ...
Implementation Funding for S.B. 54 (2014 General Session) - Clare Tobin Lence
When S.B. 54, Elections Amendments, passed during the 2014 General Session, the fiscal note ...
It Looks Like the Gas Price Decrease is Boosting Consumption - Thomas E. Young
In June 2014, the price of oil started to drop.  The price continued to drop throughout the re...
Legislative Action May Reduce the Number of Statutorily Required Reports - Steven M. Allred
One of the directions given by legislative leadership to committee chairs this interim is to look a...
Public Lands Office Appropriations - Brian Wikle
The Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (PLPCO) has historically received the largest proportio...
Reactive versus Proactive Maintenance - Angela J. Oh
During June's Executive Appropriations Committee meeting, Shane Marshall, Deputy Director for the U...
Rent or Own? - Andrea Wilko
Homeownership rates are at all time lows for a variety of reasons, including stagnant incomes pus...
Social Services June 2015 Interim Meeting Overview - Stephen C. Jardine
The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee held its first interim meeting for this year on Fri...
Update on This Is The Place Heritage Park - Ivan D. Djambov
This Is The Place Heritage Park was established in 1957 and was managed by the Division of Parks ...

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