Members Present: Sen. Lorin Jones, Chair
Sen. Scott Howell
Sen. Joseph Hull
Sen. David Steele
Sen. Howard Stephenson
Members Excused:
Members Absent: Sen. Craig Peterson
Sen. Leonard Blackham
Staff Present: Wayne Lewis, Legislative Analyst
Sheila Ainsworth, Secretary
Others Present: Phyllis Sorensen, President, UEA,
Susan Kuziak, UEA,
Karen Clark, Vice President, Utah Eagle Forum
Steve Peterson, Assoc & Exec. Director, USBA/USSA
Janiel Lyon, Utah PTA
Gary Carlston, Governor's Office
Nancy Woodside
Gayle Ruzeka
Irene Fisher, Director, L.B. Comm. Serv. Center, U of U
Ken Dye, State Division of Facilities Construction and Management
Fred Hunsaker, Commissioner's Office of Higher Education
James Bailey, Chairman/Volunteer, American West Heritage Foundation
Dr. John Maestas, President, American West Heritage Foundation
Larry Lunt, Colonel, National Guard
Nephi Lewis
David Irvine, Brigadier General, Army Reserves, Ft. Douglas
Dave Tanzi, Air Force Reserve Unit, Hill Air Force Base
Roger Livingston, Reservist, Public Affairs Officer, Army Reserves
List of others present on file
Committee Chair Lorin Jones called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.
1. H.B. 182 Class Size Reduction, by Rep. L. Frandsen
Sen. Steele presented this bill to the committee. It appropriates $13,600,000 for class size reduction.
From the audience, Phyllis Sorensen, President, UEA, spoke in favor of the bill. Susan Kuziak, UEA, answered a question from the committee, and Karen Clark, Vice President, Utah Eagle Forum, asked a clarifying question.
Sen. Jones yielded the Chair to Sen. Hull.
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to remove the five amendments made in the House to restore the bill to its original language. Now the bill would provide class size reduction for the 7th and 8th grades. He felt it was important to target middle schools.
Steve Peterson, Assoc & Exec. Director, USBA/USSA, Janiel Lyon, Utah PTA, and Gary Carlston, Governor's Office, spoke in favor of restoring the bill to its original language. Sen. Steele answered Nancy Woodside's question and Gayle Ruzeka expressed a number of concerns about the bill.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to pass out H.B. 182 as amended out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
2. S.C.R. 6 Volunteers in Higher Education Resolution, by Sen. D. Steele
Sen. Steele presented his resolution, which recognizes the state system of higher education for its accomplishments in the development of the spirit of volunteerism and help for others through its students' services and encourages further development of the expansion of service learning opportunities for students, and publicizing the volunteer work students are doing.
Irene Fisher, Director, L.B. Comm. Serv. Center, U of U, reviewed the Lowell Bennion Service Program which uses many student services and spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to pass S.C.R. 6 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to have S.C.R. 6 placed on the consent calendar.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
3. S.B. 158 Donation of Buildings to Universities, by Sen. Stephenson
Sen. Stephenson distributed to the committee copies of S.B. 158.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to substitute body and title 158 with 1st Substitute.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
Sen. Stephenson presented his bill, 1st Substitute 158, to the committee, which authorizes the Board of Regents to accept buildings donated to higher education institutions without obtaining approval from the Division of Facilities Construction and Management. Very strict conditions must be met by the donor. He and Ken Dye, State Division of Facilities Construction and Management, answered questions from the committee.
From the audience, Fred Hunsaker, Commissioner's Office of Higher Education, said higher education is more and more dependent on private donations and spoke favorably to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 158 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with all present voting. (4-0-3)
4. S.B. 204 Appropriation for Festival of the American West, by Sen. Holmgren
Sen. Holmgren presented his bill, which would provide a $1,750,000 appropriation for the completion of facilities at the American West Heritage Center which is the Jensen Historical Farm at the south end of Logan. James Bailey, Chairman/Volunteer, American West Heritage Foundation, presented a map of the Center and told more about the Center and its future. They expect it will be a tourist destination and the appropriation will be matched with private funds to refurbish and build facilities. Dr. John Maestas, President, American West Heritage Foundation, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to pass S.B. 204 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed favorably. (3-1-3)
Sen. Jones explained that his "no" vote is a result of his appropriation for $1,000,000 failing in the appropriations committee today; education of our youngsters comes before providing facilities for tourists. It's an interesting and worthy project and would like to support it, but cannot under the circumstances.
5. H.B. 292 Utah National Guard Tuition Assistance, by Rep. T. Johnson
Rep. Johnson presented his bill, which appropriates $200,000 for tuition assistance for active national guard members attending postsecondary institutions, including applied technology centers. Tuition assistance will be awarded each academic year the candidate is an active member of the Guard. Colonel Larry Lunt, National Guard, presented the details of the bill and answered questions from the committee and the audience.
From the audience, Nephi Lewis spoke to the bill, and David Irvine, Brigadier General, Army Reserves, Ft. Douglas, distributed another version of the bill which would provide the same assistance benefit to Army Reserve candidates. He answered questions and requested the committee to hold this bill until the next meeting for negotiation with the Guard.
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to hold H.B. 292 for further dialogue.
Sen. Steele then decided to hold the motion.
From the audience, Dave Tanzi, Air Force Reserve Unit, Hill Air Force Base, and Roger Livingston, Reservist, Public Affairs Officer, Army Reserves, said it was better to amend the bill to broaden the base.
There was much discussion to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to passed H.B. 292 out of committee favorably as it exists, handling negotiations on the floor.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Howell moved to amend H.B. 292 on Page 1, Line 6 by deleting "MILITIAS" in the title.
The motion failed. (1-4-2) Sen. Howell said he will bring this issue up on the floor.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to adjourn, noting there is time to deal with this bill before this legislative session ends.
The motion passed favorably. (1-4-2)
Committee Chair Lorin Jones adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
Minutes were reported by Sheila Ainsworth, Secretary.