H.B. 341

1

TASK FORCE ON LEGISLATIVE REFORMS
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Neil A. Hansen
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates the Task Force on Legislative Reforms.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . specifies membership, duties, and powers of the task force;
13 . appropriates $27,360 from the General Fund from fiscal year 2005-06 to fund the
14 task force; and
15 . repeals the task force on November 30, 2006.
16 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
17 This bill appropriates:
18 . $9,120 to the Senate; and
19 . $18,240 to the House of Representatives.
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 This bill is repealed November 30, 2006.
22 Uncodified material Affected:
23 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Legislative Reforms -- Creation -- Membership -- Interim rules
27 followed -- Compensation -- Staff.

28 (1) There is created the Task Force on Legislative Reforms consisting of the following
29 12 members:
30 (a) four members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
31 three of whom may be from the same political party; and
32 (b) eight members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
33 House of Representatives, no more than five of whom may be from the same political party.
34 (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
35 under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
36 (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
37 of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
38 (3) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
39 interim committees.
40 (4) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance
41 with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
42 (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
43 to the task force.
44 Section 2. Duties -- Interim report.
45 (1) The task force shall review and make recommendations on the following issues:
46 (a) the effectiveness of and potential changes to:
47 (i) the appropriations process, including an evaluation of using a ways and means
48 committee;
49 (ii) the interim process;
50 (iii) campaign finance reform;
51 (iv) gift reform; and
52 (v) the length of the general session;
53 (b) the current status of constituent services and recommendations for improvement;
54 (c) the current status of legislative staff and its role in legislators' efficiency and
55 effectiveness;
56 (d) Legislature funding and legislator compensation; and
57 (e) major areas of negative impact on the perception of legislator integrity.
58 (2) The task force shall review how other states, particularly other western states,

59 address the issues in Subsection (1).
60 (3) The task force may:
61 (a) create subcommittees; and
62 (b) request reports and recommendations from the Legislative Compensation
63 Commission.
64 (4) The task force shall submit a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the
65 Legislative Management Committee before November 30, 2006.
66 Section 3. Appropriation.
67 There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2005-06 only:
68 (1) $9,120 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the
69 task force; and
70 (2) $18,240 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses
71 of representatives on the task force.
72 Section 4. Repeal date.
73 This bill is repealed November 30, 2006.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-16-06 1:09 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel