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MINUTES OF THE SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

STANDING COMMITTEE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2007

ROOM W020, WEST OFFICE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:        Sen. Peter C. Knudson, Chair
                Sen. D. Chris Buttars
                Sen. Scott K. Jenkins
                Sen. Scott D. McCoy
                Sen. Ross I. Romero

Member Absent:        Sen. John W. Hickman

Staff Present:             Rich North, Policy Analyst
                 Nedra Duzett, Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Bob Miller, Utah Press Assn.
                Karen Silver, Advocate, Salt Lake Community Action Program
                Gay Taylor, General Counsel
                Richard Ellis, Deputy State Treasurer
                Rey Butzher, Director Government Relations, Questar

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

Committee Chair Knudson called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2007 meeting.

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

1.    H.B. 222S2 Open and Public Meetings - Electronic Notice (Rep. Dougall)

    
Rep. Dougall explained the bill.

    Bob Miller, Utah Press Association, spoke against the bill. A handout from the Utah Press Assn. opposing the bill was distributed.
    
    Karen Silver, Advocate, Salt Lake Community Action Program, also spoke against the bill.
    
     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.


    
2.    S.B. 202 Legislative Direction Relating to United States Senators (H. Stephenson)

    
Sen. Stephenson asked the committee to adopt a substitute bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to delete in title and body S.B. 202 and replace it with 1st Substitute S.B. 202.

    The motion passed unanimously.

    Sen. Stephenson distributed the following amendment to the substitute bill:


1.    Page 1, Line 23 through Page 2, Line 27 :    

             23          .    provides that any counsel or requests for reports be made by
  a resolution or statement called "The Sense of the Senate" that is issued by       :

             24              .    a joint resolution of the Legislature; or
             25              .    a written statement
{   , called "The Sense of the Legislature,"   } that contains the

             26      signatures of a majority of the members of the House and a majority of the
             27      members of the Senate; and

2.    Page 3, Lines 62 through 63 :    

             62          (2) A written statement under Subsection (1)
{   (b)   } shall be referred to as "The Sense of

             63      the Legislature."
        
     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to adopt the amendment.

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

    Sen. Stephenson explained the substitute bill and the amendment.

    Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the substitute bill out favorably as amended.

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



3.    H.B. 117S1 Transfer of Density (G. Froerer)

    Rep. Froerer explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

4.    H.B. 188 Easements - Counties and Municipalities (A. Tilton)

    
Rep. Tilton explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.

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

5.    H,B. 285 Land Use Development Management Act Amendments (A. Tilton)

    Rep Tilton explained the bill.

    Rey Butzher, Director Government Relations, Questar, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.

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

6.    H.B. 304 State Treasurer Compensation (D. Clark)

    Rep. Clark explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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



7.    H.B. 317 Capitol Hill Complex - Legislative Space (W. Harper)

    Rep. Harper explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

8.    H.B. 335 Local Government - Charitable Contributions (B. Dee)

    Rep. Dee explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.

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


9.    H.B. 337 Local Government Post-employment Benefit Trust Funds Amendments
    (K. Grover)

    
Rep. Grover explained the bill.

    Richard Ellis, Dep. State Treasurer, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.
    
    The motion passed unanimously.     
    
10.    H.B. 367 Global Positioning Reference Network (K. Holdaway)

    Rep. Holdaway explained the bill.



     MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to pass the bill out favorably.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.

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

    Committee Chair Knudson adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

    Minutes reported by Nedra Duzett, Secretary



______________________________________
Sen. Peter C. Knudson, Committee Chair