First Substitute H.B. 336

Representative Stephen E. Sandstrom proposes the following substitute bill:

1 UTILITY COSTS OF DEPLOYED
2 SERVICEMEMBERS
3 2007 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill provides for the payment or waiver of utility charges for deployed
11 servicemembers.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . defines terms;
15 . provides for payment of a portion of deployed servicemembers' utility charges by
16 the Division of Veterans' Affairs; and
17 . provides for the waiver of deployed servicemembers' utility charges by a county or
18 municipality.
19 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2007.
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 ENACTS:
25 71-12-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953

26 71-12-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27 71-12-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
28 71-12-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29
30 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. Section 71-12-101 is enacted to read:
32 CHAPTER 12. UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR DEPLOYED SERVICEMEMBERS ACT
33 Part 1. General Provisions
34 71-12-101. Title.
35 This chapter is known as the "Utility Payments for Deployed Servicemembers Act."
36 Section 2. Section 71-12-102 is enacted to read:
37 71-12-102. Definitions.
38 As used in this chapter:
39 (1) "Deployed servicemember" means a member of the military reserve or Utah
40 National Guard who is generally not a full-time servicemember but is called into active
41 full-time service of the United States for 180 days or longer.
42 (2) "Military reserve" means the military reserve forces of the United States, regardless
43 of military branch.
44 (3) "Utah National Guard" means the National Guard created in Title 39, Militia and
45 Armories.
46 (4) "Utility charges" means periodic charges for the use of utilities servicing a deployed
47 servicemember's residence, including:
48 (a) natural gas;
49 (b) electricity;
50 (c) water;
51 (d) sewerage; and
52 (e) garbage.
53 Section 3. Section 71-12-201 is enacted to read:
54 Part 2. Servicemembers' Utility Charges
55 71-12-201. Payment of utility charges for deployed servicemembers.
56 (1) The Division of Veterans' Affairs shall pay utility charges, up to $75 per month for

57 up to 12 months, for a deployed servicemember during the period of time for which the
58 servicemember is deployed.
59 (2) Payments under this section shall be made only for utility charges not waived under
60 Section 71-12-202 .
61 Section 4. Section 71-12-202 is enacted to read:
62 71-12-202. Waiver of municipal utility charges for deployed servicemembers.
63 Except for utility charges for electricity, a county or municipality shall waive utility
64 charges for a deployed servicemember during the period of time for which the servicemember
65 is deployed.
66 Section 5. Effective date.
67 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2007.