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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
STANDING COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2004
Room 414, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING


Members Present:        Sen. Gregory Bell, Chair
            Sen. Patrice M. Arent
            Sen. D. Chris Buttars
            Sen. Mike Dmitrich
            Sen. James M. Evans
            Sen. David L. Gladwell
            Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

Members Excused:        Sen. L. Al Mansell
        
Staff Present:        Jami Momberger, Policy Analyst
            Katrina Yarrington, Committee Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Ron Karron, citizen
            Steve Russell, Attorney
            Mark May, Attorney General's Office
            Mol Wilson, Davis County Attorney
            Reed Richards, Attorney, State Council of Victims
            Brian King, Utah Trial Lawyers Association
            Ron Stromberg, Director of Adult Protective Services
            Rick Schwermer, Utah Office of the Courts
            Craig Petersen, Consultant, American Council of Engineering Consultants
            Jim Olsen, President, Utah Food Industry Association
            Edward Havas, Utah Trial Lawyers Association
            Kristen Brewer, Director, Guardian As Litem
            Robin Arnold Williams, Executive Director, Department of Human Services
            Roger Tew, League of Cities and Towns
            Gary Thorup, Property Casualty

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Committee Chair Bell called the meeting to order at 7:40 a.m.
    
1.     H.B. 179 Vulnerable Adult Abuse Amendments (P. Jones)

    Rep. Jones introduced the bill assisted by Ron Stromberg, Director of Adult Protective Services.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to pass H.B. 179 out with a favorable recommendation.


    
    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Evans absent for the vote.

2. 1st Substitute S.B. 54 Restructuring Division of Child and Family Services (P. Hellewell)

    Sen. Hellewell introduced the bill assisted by Ron Karron, citizen.

     MOTION: Sen. Dmitrich moved to adopt 2nd Substitute S.B. 54.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Evans and Sen. Dmitrich absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to amend 2nd Sub. S.B. 54 as follows:

1.    Page 4, Lines 102 through 103 :    

             102          [(vii)] (viii) making recommendations based on the findings and results of
             103      recommendations;
  and      


2.    Page 4, Lines 104 through 106 :    

             104     
[[       (ix) the time in which the division shall reply to the ombudsman's inquiries; and

             105          (x)  
]]
  (ix)       the time in which the departments, agencies, or entities shall respond to the record

             106      requests;

3.    Page 5, Line 147 through Page 6, Line 153 :    
    (b) The ombudsman shall have
[[   [access to all of the department's written and electronic

             148      records and databases, including those regarding individual cases]  
]]
  access to all of the department's written and electronic records and databases, including those regarding individual cases, and may            [[   the power to   ]] subpoena all

             149      records from any entity related to the individual cases, and may rely on the Child Welfare
             150      Legislative Oversight Panel's subpoena powers for necessary access to testimony. In
             151      accordance with Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, all
             152      documents and information received by the ombudsman shall maintain the same classification
             153      that was designated by the department.


    The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

    The following people spoke to the bill:


    Robin Arnold-Williams, Executive Director, Department of Human Services

    The following people spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Rich Schwermer, Utah Office of the Courts
    Kristin Brewer, Director, Guardian Ad Litem

     MOTION: Sen. Dmitrich made a motion to move to the next item on the agenda.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

3. S.B. 105 Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Amendments (P. Hellewell)

    Sen. Hellewell introduced the bill assisted by Steve Russell, Attorney.

    MOTION: Sen. Arent moved amend S.B. 105 as follows:

1.    Page 5, Lines 131 through 136 :    

(d) For purposes of this section, "relative" means an adult who is a grandparent, great
             132      grandparent, aunt, great aunt, uncle, great uncle, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepparent, first
             133      cousin, stepsibling,
[[   [or]   ]]        or       sibling of the child      [[   , or has otherwise established a significant

             134      relationship with the child  
]]
. In the case of a child defined as an "Indian" under the Indian Child
             135      Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. Section 1903, "relative" also means an "extended family member" as
             136      defined by that statute.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars made a motion to move to the next item on the agenda.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

4. S.B. 126 Amendments to Warrants (P. Hellewell)

    Sen. Hellewell introduced the bill assisted by Steve Russell, Attorney.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to amend S.B. 126 as follows:

2.    Page 6, Lines 160 through 163 :    


(b) For purposes of
[[   this   ]] Subsection      [[   (2)   ]]        (1)       (b):

             161          (i) another minor residing in the same household may not be removed from the home
             162      unless that minor is considered to be at substantial risk of being physically or sexually abused
             163      as described in Subsection (1)(b) or this Subsection (2)(b)
  (ii)       ; and


    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

    The following people spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Mark May, Attorney General's Office
    Rich Schwermer, Utah Office of the Courts

     MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to pass S.B. 126, as amended, out with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed, with Sen. Arent and Sen. Dmitrich voting in opposition, and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

5. S.B. 167 Victim Restitution Amendments (G. Bell)

    Sen. Bell introduced the bill assisted by Reed Richards, Attorney, State Council of Victims, and Mol Wilson, Davis County Attorney.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to pass S.B. 167 out with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Dmitrich, Sen. Gladwell, and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

6. H.B. 96 Statute of Repose (J. S. Adams)

    Rep. Adams introduced the bill.

    The following people spoke in support of the bill:
    Brian King, Utah Trial Lawyers Association
    Craig Peterson, Consultant, American Council of Engineering Consultants

     MOTION: Sen. Evans moved to pass H.B. 96 out with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Gladwell and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to place H.B. 96 on the Consent Calendar.


    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Gladwell and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

7. H.B. 81 Criminal Law Intent Amendment (T. McCartney)

    Rep. McCartney introduced the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to pass H.B.81 out with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Buttars, Sen. Gladwell, and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to place H.B.81 on the Consent Calendar.

     The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Buttars, Sen. Gladwell and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

8. 1st Substitute H.B.42 Interest Rates on Judgements (J. Dunnigan)

    Rep. Dunnigan introduced the bill.

    The following people spoke in support of the bill:
    Jim Olsen, President, Utah Food Industry Association
    Roger Tew, League of Cities and Towns
    Gary Thorup, Property Casualty

    The following people spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Edward Havas, Utah Trial Lawyers Association

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to table 1st Sub. H.B.42.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Gladwell absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to adjourn.

    Committee Chair Bell adjourned the meeting at 9:35 a.m.

    Minutes recorded by Katrina Yarrington, Secretary




Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Committee Chair