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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007
, 2:00 P.M.
ROOM W130, WEST OFFICE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:    Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Chair
    Sen. Jon J. Greiner
    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard
    Sen. Mark B. Madsen
    Sen. Scott D. McCoy
    Sen. Ross I. Romero
    
Members Excused:    Pres. John L. Valentine

Staff Present:    Jerry Howe, Policy Analyst
    Bonnie Brinton, Committee Secretary
    
Public Speakers Present:    Kirk Cullimore, Attorney
    Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts
    Martin S. Blaustein, Attorney, Utah Legal Services
    Steve Ericksen, Utah Issues
    Karen Silver, Advocate, Salt Lake Community Action Program
    Stephen Trayner, Attorney, State Farm/UDLA
    Roger Holle, President, Utah Trial Lawyers Association
    Brain Allen, Lobbyist, Liberty Mutual/Insurance Industry
    Gary Thorup, Local Counsel, PCIAA
    Dan Becker, Court Administration

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

Chair Bell called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
    
Approval of Minutes

    MOTION:
Sen. Madsen moved to approve the minutes of January 23, 2007.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Hillyard and Romero absent for the vote.

1.    H.B. 31 Driver License or Identification Card Requirement for Sex Offenders
    (Rep. P. Ray)


    
Sen. Greiner explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass H.B. 31 out of Committee with a favorable

    recommendation.

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

2.    S.B. 136 Unlawful Detainer Amendments (Sen. M. Waddoups)

    
Sen. Waddoups explained the bill.

    Kirk Cullimore, Attorney, assisted in the presentation of the bill.

    Sen. Waddoups proposed the Committee adopt the following amendment to S.B. 136:


1.    Page 4, Line 108 :    

             108      [The]

{   Any officer of the court   }        A judge, court clerk, or plaintiff's counsel       shall indorse on the summons the number of days within which


2.    Page 6, Lines 167 through 171 :    

             167          (b) the court shall begin the trial within 60 days after the day on which the complaint is
             168     
{   filed   }        served       , unless the parties agree otherwise.

             169          (2) (a) In an action for unlawful detainer where the claim is for nonpayment of rent, the
             170      court shall hold an evidentiary hearing
  , upon request of either party,       within ten days after the day on which the defendant

             171      files the defendant's answer.

3.    Page 6, Lines 181 through 182 :    

             181          (b) The hearing required by Subsection (3)(a) shall be set at the time the complaint is
             182      filed and
  notice of the hearing       shall be served upon the defendant with the summons at least three calendar days


4.    Page 7, Lines 210 through 211 :    

             210          (d)
  (i)       A forfeiture under Subsection (1)(c) does not release a defendant from any

             211      obligation for payments on a lease for the remainder of the lease's term.
    
  (ii) Subsection (1)(d)(i) does not change any obligation on either party to

mitigate damages.      


    

     MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to adopt the amendment to S.B. 136. The motion passed     unanimously with Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

    Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts, spoke to the bill.

    Martin S. Blaustein, Attorney, Utah Legal Services, spoke against the bill.

    Steve Ericksen, Utah Issues, requested the bill be held.

    Karen Silver, Advocate, Salt Lake Community Action Program, spoke against the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to hold the bill until the next meeting.

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

3.    S.B. 157 Parental Notification of Child Interview by Law Enforcement
    (Sen. D. C. Buttars)

    
Sen. Buttars explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Greiner moved to go to the next agenda item.     
    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Madsen and Romero absent for the vote.

4.    S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution Supporting Kane County Expansion of Correctional Facilities     (Sen. D. Stowell)

    
Sen. Stowell explained the resolution.

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to pass S.J.R. 8 out of Committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Madsen and Romero absent for the vote.

    
Sen. McCoy assumed the Chair.

5.    S.B. 113 Limitation of Actions (Sen. G. Bell)

    
Sen. Bell explained the bill.



    Stephen Trayner, Attorney, State Farm/UDLA, assisted in explaining the bill and spoke in favor of the bill.

    Roger Holle, President, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, and Brain Allen, Lobbyist, Liberty Mutual/Insurance Industry, spoke in favor of the bill.     
     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to pass S.B. 113 out of Committee with a favorable
    recommendation.

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

6.    S.B. 152 Presumptive Personal Representative (Sen. G. Bell)

    
Sen. Bell explained the bill.

    Dan Becker, Court Administration, assisted in explaining the bill and spoke in favor of the bill.

    Stephen Trayner, Attorney, State Farm/UDLA, Roger Holle, President, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, and Gary Thorup, Local Counsel, PCIAA, spoke in favor of the bill.
    
     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to pass S.B. 152 out of Committee with a favorable
    recommendation.

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

7.    S.B. 151 Case Management Pilot Project (Sen. G. Bell)

    
Sen. Bell explained the bill.

    Dan Becker, Court Administration, assisted in explaining the bill and spoke in favor of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to pass S.B. 151 out of Committee with a favorable
    recommendation.

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

8.    S.B. 150 Property Exempt from Execution (Sen. L. Hillyard)

    
Sen. Hillyard explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to pass S.B. 150 out of Committee with a favorable


    recommendation.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to place S.B. 150 on the Consent Calendar.

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

     MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to adjourn.

    The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.


        
_            _____________________________________
            Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Committee Chair