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MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
ROOM W010, WEST OFFICE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX
FEBRUARY 10, 2005

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Douglas C. Aagard, Chair
        Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, Vice Chair
        Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman
        Rep. Craig W. Buttars
        Rep. Stephen D. Clark
        Rep. Neil A. Hansen
        Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson
        Rep. Eric K. Hutchings
        Rep. John G. Mathis
        Rep. Aaron Tilton
        Rep. Mark Wheatley    
    
STAFF PRESENT:    John Cannon, Managing Policy Analyst
        Sylvia Newton, Committee Secretary

Note:    A list of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Rep. Hughes called the meeting to order at 8:39 a.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Hansen moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2005 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Buttars absent for the vote.

H.B. 99    State Fleet Vehicle Classification (Rep. E. Hutchings)

MOTION:    Rep. Hutchings moved to return H.B. 99 to the Rules Committee. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hansen and Rep. Hendrickson absent for the vote.

H.B. 128    Compensation of Executive Officers (Rep. L. Christensen)

Rep. Christensen introduced H.B. 128 and explained it to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Hutchings moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Buttars, Rep. Clark, Rep. Hansen, Rep. Hendrickson, and Rep. Mathis voting in opposition to the motion.

H.B. 248    Child Support Obligations (Rep. E. Hutchings)

MOTION:    Rep. Hutchings moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 11, Lines 322 through 325 :    

             322          (4) In cases where the monthly adjusted gross income of [the obligor] either parent is

             323      between $650 and $1,050, the base child support award
  for that parent       shall be the lesser of the amount

             324      calculated in accordance with Subsection (2) and the amount calculated using the low income
             325      table. If the income and number of children is found in an area of the low income table in

2.    Page 13, Lines 386 through 388 :    

             386          (5) A child support award entered pursuant to Subsections (3) and (4) is effective only
             387      during the period of incarceration, institutionalization, residential treatment, or physical or
             388      mental disability, and for
{   six   }        three       months after the parent's release or termination of the disability.


3.    Page 13, Lines 389 through 393 :    

             389          (6) An order entered in accordance with this section that establishes or modifies a child
             390      support order may automatically adjust prospective support to a specified amount, based on
             391      minimum wage or other projected income using the best available information, to take effect
             392      without further notice to the parent on the first day of the month following
{   six   }        three       months after the

             393      parent's release or termination of disability.

The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Buttars absent for the vote.

Rep. Hutchings introduced H.B. 248 as amended and explained it to the committee. He was assisted by Emma Chacon, Director of Office of Recovery Services.

MOTION:    Rep. Hutchings moved to further amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 4, Lines 95 through 100 :    

             95          (15) "Incarcerated obligor" means a person who:
             96          (a) is or may become subject to an order establishing or modifying child support; and
             97          (b) is
{   or is expected to be   } confined in a correctional        facility       , secure correctional facility, or

             98
     secure facility for at least 12 consecutive months from the date of initiation of an action to
             99      establish a support order or from the date of a request to modify an existing order pursuant to
             100      this section.

2.    Page 13, Lines 396 through 399 :    

             396          (8) This section does not apply to a parent who is incarcerated because of:
             397          (a) nonpayment of child support;
             398          (b) child abuse or neglect;
{   or   }

             399          © domestic violence
  ;

    (d) a conviction of any crime from a plea agreement where a charge for an offense listed in subsection (a), (b), or © is dismissed; or
    (e) any other crime in which the victim is a child  
.


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Stewart Ralphs, Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake

MOTION:    Rep. Hutchings moved to pass the amended bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Hendrickson voting in opposition to the motion.

S.J.R. 10    Resolution to Congress Regarding Oil and Gas Drilling and Exploration (Sen. H. Stephenson)

Sen. Stephenson introduced S.J.R. 10 and explained it to the committee. He was assisted by Don Colton, President, Pioneer Oil & Gas.

Spoke in opposition to the resolution:    Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

MOTION:    Rep. Clark moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Buttars absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Bowman moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Buttars absent for the vote.

Rep. Hughes adjourned the meeting at 9:56 a.m.



                    __________________________
                    Rep. Douglas C. Aagard, Chair