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MINUTES OF THE SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Members Present: Sen. Carlene M. Walker, Chair
Sen. Patrice Arent
Sen. Dan Eastman
Sen. Beverly Evans
Sen. Bill Hickman
Sen. Peter Knudson
Members Excused: Sen. Karen Hale
Staff Present: Richard North, Policy Analyst
Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: John Fellows, Associate General Counsel, Legislative Research
Mark Towner, Chair, Utahns for Legislative Reform
Candace Daly, Secretary, State Republican Party
Linda Burton, Secretary, Davis County Republican Party
Fraser Nelson, Executive Director, Disability Law Center
A list of visitors is filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Walker called the meeting to order at 8:16 a.m.
1. H.B. 40 Filling Midterm Vacancies in the Legislature (C. Frank)
Rep. Craig Frank introduced the bill.
John Fellows, Assoc. General Counsel, Legislative Research, clarified questions concerning the bill.
Mark Towner, Chair, Utahns for Legislative Reform, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Candace Daly, Secretary, State Republican Party, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to pass H.B. 40 out with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Arent absent at the time of voting.
2. S.B. 116 County Recorder Amendments (T. Hatch)
Sen. Thomas Hatch introduced the bill.
Sen. Eastman moved to pass S.B. 116 out with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Arent absent at the time of voting.
3. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2004 meeting.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Arent absent at the time of voting.
4. H.B. 9 Absentee Ballot Amendments (D. Aagard)
Rep. Douglas Aagard introduced the bill.
Mark Towner, Chair, Utahns for Legislative Reform; Candace Daly, Secretary, State Republican Party; and Fraser Nelson, Executive Director, Disability Law Center, spoke in support of the bill.
Linda Burton, Secretary, Davis County Republican Party, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass H.B. 9 out with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously.
5. H.B. 175 Process for Filling Midterm Vacancies in the Legislature (W. Harper)
Rep. Wayne Harper introduced the bill.
Candace Daly, Secretary, State Republican Party, stated that the State Republican Party takes a neutral position on the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Eastman moved to take no action on the bill and move to the next item on the agenda.
The motion passed unanimously.
6. H.B. 57 Amendments to Budgetary Procedures Act (J. Seitz)
Rep. Jack Seitz introduced the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass H.B. 57 out with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to adjourn.
The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Chair Walker adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m.
Minutes reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Sen. Carlene Walker, Committee Chair