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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT
STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
415 State Capitol, Utah State Capitol Complex
Sen. Allen Christensen
Sen. Gene Davis
Sen. Margaret Dayton
Sen. Karen Morgan
Sen. Ralph Okerlund
Staff Present: J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst
Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Dick Buehler, Director, Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
Michael Johnson, Assistant Attorney General
Douglas Foxley, Attorney, Union Pacific Corp.
Bruce Jones, General Counsel, Utah Transit Authority
Mark Walsh, Executive Director, Western Counties Alliance
Mark Ward, Policy Analyst, Utah Association of Counties
Steven Peterson, Utah School Boards Association
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Stowell called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Morgan moved to approve the minutes of February 6, 2009
The motion passed unanimously.
2. S.B. 80 Fire Liability Modifications (Sen. M. Dayton)
Sen. Dayton introduced the bill. Dick Buehler, Director, Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and Michael Johnson, Assistant Attorney General, assisted in the presentation. Handouts were distributed.
Douglas Foxley, Attorney, Union Pacific Corp, and Bruce Jones, General Counsel, Utah Transit Authority, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to go to the next item on the agenda to allow time to resolve issues with S.B. 80.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen absent for the vote.
3. H.B. 149 Forest Reserve Fund Revisions (Rep. M. Noel) (Sen. R. Okerlund)
Rep. Mike Noel introduced the bill. Mark Walsh, Executive Director, Western Counties Alliance, and Mark Ward, Policy Analyst, Utah Association of Counties, assisted in the presentation. Handouts were distributed.
Steven Peterson, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Morgan moved to pass H.B. 149, Forest Reserve Fund Revisions, out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Davis absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Morgan moved to have H.B. 149 placed on the Consent Calendar. She withdrew the motion.
Sen. Dayton suggested requesting that H.B. 149 be placed at the top of the Second Reading Calendar.
MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to adjourn.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Christensen and Sen. Davis absent for the vote.
Chair Stowell adjourned the meeting at 4:16 p.m.
Minutes reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary
______________________________
Dennis E. Stowell, Committee Chair