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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION STANDING COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2006
, 8:00 A.M.
ROOM W130, WEST OFFICE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:    Sen. Curtis Bramble, Chair     Sen. Gregory Bell
    Sen. Mike Dmitrich
    Sen. Brent Goodfellow
    Sen. Darin G. Peterson
    Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
    
Members Excused:    Sen. Lyle Hillyard
    Sen. John Valentine

Staff Present:    Bryant Howe, Assistant Director
    Karen Allred, Committee Secretary
    
Public Speakers Present:    Sarah Wilhelm, Fiscal Policy Director, Voices for Utah Children
    Palmer DePaulis, State Tax Commission
    Mike German, Utah Taxpayers Association
    Bruce Johnson, State Tax Commission
    Mark Buchi, Holme Roberts & Owens
    Lee Peacock, Utah Petroleum Association
    
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Chair Bramble called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m. and announced that S.B. 210 and S.B. 166
would not be heard today.

Approval of Minutes

    MOTION:
Sen. Goodfellow moved to approve the minutes of February 7, 2006.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dmitrich, Peterson and Stephenson absent for the     vote.

1.    S.B. 208 Reporting of Tax Expenditures (S. McCoy)

     2nd Sub. S.B. 208 was distributed.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to adopt 2nd Sub. S.B. 208.     
    Sen. McCoy explained the bill.



    Sarah Wilhelm, Fiscal Policy Director, Voices for Utah Children, distributed a handout,     clarified and spoke in support of the bill.     
    Palmer DePaulis, State Tax Commission, further clarified the bill, answered questions from     the committee and spoke in support of the bill.

    Mike German, Utah Taxpayers Association expressed concerns with the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to proceed to the next item on the agenda.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

2.    S.B. 225 Payment of Tax or Bonding in Tax Cases (H. Stephenson)

    
The following amendment was distributed:
    

1.    Page 2, Lines 41 through 48 :    

             41          (3) The commission shall waive the requirements of Subsection (2) if a taxpayer
             42      establishes:
             43          (a) that the taxpayer has
{   assets or income worth substantially more than the amount of

             44      the deficiency  
}
  sufficient financial resources to pay the deficiency if the deficiency is upheld in a final unappealable judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction       ; or

             45          (b) as determined by the commission, that collection of the deficiency that is the
             46      subject of the appeal is not jeopardized by waiving the requirements of Subsection (2).
             47          (4) (a) The commission may not unreasonably deny a waiver described in Subsection
             48      (3).
    
    MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to adopt the amendment.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

    Sen. Stephenson explained the bill.

    Bruce Johnson, State Tax Commission; Mark Buchi, Holme Roberts & Owens; and Lee     Peacock, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in support of the bill.



     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to transmit the bill with a favorable recommendation.

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

3.    H.B. 256 Requirement of Property Tax Increase Advertisement (G. Hughes)

    Rep. Hughes explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to refer to interim study the issues of the cost     of newspaper Truth in Taxation advertisements and the feasibility of requiring electronic     advertisements.
    
    
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dmitrich absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved the transmit the bill with a favorable recommendation.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn.

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

    Committee Chair Bramble adjourned the meeting at 9:10 a.m.




        
            _______________________________
            Sen. Curtis Bramble, Committee Chair