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MINUTES OF THE SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Members Present: Sen. Peter C. Knudson, Chair
Sen. D. Chris Buttars
Sen. John W. Hickman
Sen. Scott K. Jenkins
Sen. Scott D. McCoy
Sen. Ross I. Romero
Staff Present: Rich North, Policy Analyst
Nedra Duzett, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Michael Cragun, Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt. Governor's Office
Jodi Hoffman, Utah League of Cities of Towns
Ryan Mecham, Utah Property Rights Coalition
Arie VanDeGraff,, Utah Assn. of Counties
Mark Crockett, Council Member, Salt Lake County
Lynn Nelson, Cache County Sheriff, Utah Sheriff's Assn.
Lynn Pace, City Council, Holladay City
Major Patrick Osmond, Utah National Guard
Ronald Mortensen, citizen, Citizens Coalition on Illegal Immigration
Paul Mero, president, Sutherland Institute
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Knudson called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2008
meeting.
The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Jenkins and Romero absent for the vote.
1. H.B. 238 Campaign Finance Filing Requirements (G. Hughes)
Rep. Hughes explained the bill.
Michael Cragun, Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt. Governor's Office, answered questions from
the committee.
Arie VanDeGraff, Utah Assn. of Counties, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hickman moved to go to the next item on the agenda.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The substitute motion failed with Sens. Buttars, Jenkins, and McCoy voting in favor of the bill and Sens. Knudson, Hickman, and Romero voting in opposition.
The vote on the original motion failed with Sens. Hickman, Romero, and Knudson voting
in favor of the motion and Sens. Buttars, Jenkins, and McCoy voting in opposition.
The Chair ruled that the bill will be held in Committee.
2. S.B. 196 County and Municipal Land Use Amendments (W. Niederhauser)
Sen. Niederhauser explained the bill.
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Jodi Hoffman, Utah League of Cities and Towns
Ryan Mecham, Utah Property Rights Coalition
MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. S.B. 253 County Law Enforcement Duties (M. Waddoups)
Sen. Waddoups explained the bill assisted by Mark Crockett, Council Member, Salt Lake County.
Lynn Nelson, Cache County Sheriff, Utah Sheriff's Assn., raised questions about the bill and said it would require further study.
Lynn Pace , Council Member, Holladay City, and also representing the League of Cities &
Towns, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to go to the next item on the agenda.
The motion passed unanimously.
4. S.B. 213 State Contract - False Claims Act (A. Christensen)
At the Sponsor's request, the bill will be returned to the Rules Committee.
Sen. Hickman assumed the Chair.
5. S.B. 274 Amendments to Utah Service Member's Civil Relief Act (P. Knudson)
Sen. Knudson explained the bill.
Major Patrick Osmond, Utah National Guard, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar.
6. S.B. 275 Military Justice Code Amendments (P. Knudson)
Sen. Knudson explained the bill.
Major Patrick Osmond, Utah National Guard, spoke to the bill
MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.
Sen. Knudson resumed the Chair.
7. S.B. 97 Immigration Task Force (S. Jenkins)
Sen. Jenkins explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page 2, Line 58: After line 58, insert "(d) The budgetary costs
and economic benefits of illegal immigrants to
the state. "
The motion passed with Sens. Buttars and Hickman voting in opposition.
Ronald Mortensen, Citizens Coalition on Illegal Immigration, spoke in opposition
to the bill.
Paul Mero, Sutherland Institute, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to adjourn.
Committee Chair Knudson adjourned the meeting at 9:57 a.m.
Minutes reported by Nedra Duzett, Secretary
Sen. Peter C. Knudson, Committee Chair