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MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

Room 223 - State Capitol Building

February 17, 2004


MEMBERS PRESENT:
    Rep. Ben C. Ferry, Chair
        Rep. J. Stuart Adams, Vice Chair    
        Rep. Chad E. Bennion
        Rep. Katherine M. Bryson
        Rep. Greg J. Curtis
        Rep. Scott Daniels
        Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson
        Rep. Eric K. Hutchings
        Rep. M. Susan Lawrence
        Rep. Dana C. Love
        Rep. Rosalind J. McGee
        Rep. J. Morgan Philpot
        Rep. Mike Thompson        
        
MEMBERS ABSENT:    None

STAFF:    Jerry D. Howe, Policy Analyst
        Cherri White, Committee Secretary            

NOTE:    A list of visitors and handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

    Representative Adams called the meeting to order at 7:37 A.M. and called for a motion to approve minutes.

MOTION:    Representative Ferry moved to approve the minutes of February 11 and 13, 2004. The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion, Bryson, Daniels, Hutchings, Lawrence, and Love absent for the vote.

H.B. 262    Penalties for Providing False or Misleading Information in Court (Rep. J. Alexander)

    The sponsor requested the committee consider and adopt 1st Substitute H.B. 262.

MOTION:    Representative Thompson moved to delete H.B. 262 and replace it with 1st Substitute H.B. 262. The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion, Bryson, Daniels, Hutchings, and Love absent for the vote.

    The sponsor then proceeded to introduced the substitute bill and explain its intent.

    Paul Boyden, Statewide Association of Prosecutors, recommended amendments to the bill.



MOTION:    Representative Bryson moved to amend as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 28 through 43 :    

             28          (1) A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person, not under oath or
             29      affirmation, intentionally or knowingly gives or causes to be given false or misleading
             30      information to an officer of the court for the purpose of influencing a sentencing decision.
             31          (2) For the purposes of this section "officer of the court" means:
             32          (a) prosecutor;
             33          (b) judge;
             34          (c) court clerk;
             35          
[[  (d) attorney;

             36           (e) guardian ad litem;   ]]
             37          (f) interpreter;
             38          (g) bailiff;
             39          (h) presentence investigator;
             40          (i) probation officer;
             41          (j) parole officer; and
             42          (k) any other person reasonably believed to be gathering sentencing information for the
             43      court.

The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion, Hutchings and Love absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Representative Bryson moved to pass the substitute bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion, Hutchings, and Love absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 25    Joint Resolution on Marriage (Rep. L. Christensen)

    The sponsor introduced the bill and explained its intent. Senator Butters assisted in the presentation of the bill.

    Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.

    Speaking against the bill:

        Representative Jackie Biskupski
        Michael Mitchell, Equality Utah


MOTION:    Representative Ferry moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed 8- 3-2 with Representatives Daniels, McGee, and Philpot voting against the motion, and Representative Bennion and Curtis absent for the vote.

S.B. 150    Judicial Confirmation Process Amendments (Sen. D. C. Buttars)

    The sponsor introduced the bill and explained its intent. He also indicated an amendment had been prepared that he would like the committee to consider adopting.

MOTION:    Representative Thompson moved to amend:

1.    Page 2, Lines 50 through 52
    Senate 3rd Reading Amendments
    2-11-2004 :
    

             50           [(3)] (4) s
  (a) Letters of inquiry submitted by any judge at the request of any judicial nominating commission shall be classified as private in accordance with Section 63-2-302; and      

  (b) All other records            [[  Records   ]] received S [by the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee] s from the

             51      governor pursuant to this section may be classified as private in accordance with Section
             52      63-2-302 .

The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion and Curtis absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Representative Bryson moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion and Curtis absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Representative Hutchings moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Representatives Bennion and Curtis absent for the vote.

H.B. 266    Revisions to Child Welfare (Rep. W. Harper)

    The sponsor introduced the bill and explained its intent.

    Richard Anderson, Director, Division of Child and Family Services, spoke to the bill.

    Speaking in favor of the bill:

        Margarita Sundow, Utah Families Association
        Gayle Rusicka, Utah Eagle Forum
        Matt Throckmorton, Concerned Citizen



    Speaking against the bill:

        Mark May, Attorney Generals Office, Child Protection
        Dr. Lori Frasier, Primary Children's Medical Center
        Alain Balmanno, Attorney Generals Office, David C. Case
        Barbara Feaster, U Foster Success

MOTION:    Representative Philpot moved to pass the bill out favorably.

SUBSTITUTE
MOTION:
    Representative Love moved to hold the bill and move to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed 7-5-1 with Representatives Daniels, Hendrickson, Lawrence, Love, McGee, Adams, and Ferry voting in favor of the motion, Representatives Bennion, Bryson, Hutchings, Philpot, and Thompson voting against the motion, and Representative Curtis absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Representative Hutchings moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Representative Curtis absent for the vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:03 A.M.

    The following two bills were not discussed.

H.B. 336        Claims on Real Property (Rep. G. Hughes)
2nd Sub. S.B. 45    Uniform Parentage Act (Sen. L. Hillyard)








                ___________________________________
Rep. Ben C. Ferry, Chair