Link to Zipped WordPerfect Minutes 4K bytes
Members Present: Sen. Curtis Bramble, Chair
Sen. Gene Davis Sen. D. Chris Buttars Sen. Brent Goodfellow
Sen. Darin Peterson
Sen. Carlene Walker
Staff Present: Benjamin N. Christensen, Policy Analyst
Eric Weeks, Associate General Counsel
Nedra Duzett, Committee Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Will Carlson, Manager of Public Policy, Equality Utah
Ralph Becker, Mayor, Salt Lake City
Soren Simonsen, member, Salt Lake City Council
Ed Rutan, attorney for Salt Lake City
Melanie Schertz, employee of Salt Lake City
Ruth Hackford-Peer, member, Equality Utah
LaVar Christensen, attorney, Citizens for Principled Government
Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum
Laura Bunker, Vice-President/Communication, United Families Utah
Alexis Worlock, citizen
Dan Andersen, counsel, State Retirement System
Steven Peterson, Utah School Boards Assn.; Utah School Supt. Assn.
Kent Abel, Executive Director, Utah Retired School Teachers Assn.
Roger Mine, President-Elect, Utah Retired Teachers Assn.
Ruby Hammel, AARP Executive Council, AARP
Karen Larsen, Utah Retired School Educators Assn.
Courtney White, Director Research, Utah Education Assn.
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Bramble called the meeting to order at 7:03 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2008 meeting.
The motion passed unanimously.
1. S.B. 298 State Land Acquisition (J. Hickman)
Sen. Bramble explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed unanimously.
2. S.B. 299 Revision to Local Government (G. Bell)
Sen. Bell explained the bill.
The following individuals spoke in opposition to the bill:
Will Carlson, Manager of Public Policy, Equality Utah
Ralph Becker, Mayor, Salt Lake City
Soren Simonsen, member, Salt Lake City Council
Ed Rutan, attorney for Salt Lake City
Melanie Schertz, employee of Salt Lake City
Ruth Hackford-Peer, member, Equality Utah
The following individuals spoke in support of the bill:
LaVar Christensen, attorney, Citizens for Principled Government
Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum
Laura Bunker, Vice-President/Communication, United Families Utah
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed with Sens. Davis and Goodfellow voting in opposition.
3. H.B. 39 Divestment of Certain Retirement Fund Investments (Julie Fisher)
Rep. Fisher explained the bill.
Alexis Worlock, citizen, spoke in support of the bill.
Dan Andersen, Utah State Retirement System, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to go to the next item on the agenda.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to table the bill.
The motion passed unanimously.
4. H.B. 94S1 Public Employees' Retirement - Spousal Election (L. Shurtliff)
The bill was not heard at the request of the sponsor.
5. H.B. 145 Additional State Retirement Benefit (K. Holdaway)
Rep. Holdaway explained the bill.
The following individuals spoke in support of the bill:
Steven Peterson, Utah School Boards Assn. and Utah School Supt. Assn.
Kent Abel, Executive Director, Utah Retired School Teachers Assn.
Roger Mine, President-Elect, Utah Retired Teachers Assn.
Ruby Hammel, AARP Executive Council, AARP
Karen Larsen, Utah Retired School Educators Assn.
Courtney White, Director Research, Utah Education Assn.
MOTION: Sen. Petersen moved to table the bill.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass the bill out favorably.
The motion passed with Sen. Bramble and Sen. Peterson voting in opposition.
6. H.B. 202 Employee Benefit Amendments (J. Dougall)
The bill was not heard.
MOTION: Sen. Davis moved to adjourn.
The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Chair Bramble adjourned the meeting at 8:31 a.m.
Minutes reported by Nedra Duzett, Secretary
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Sen. Curtis Bramble, Committee Chair