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MINUTES OF THE HOUSE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 25, House Office Building, State Capitol Complex
January 29, 2010



Members Present:    Rep. Douglas Aagard, Chair
            Rep. Curt Oda, Vice Chair
            Rep. Trisha Beck            
            Rep. Ben Ferry                        
            Rep. Richard Greenwood
            Rep. David Litvak                
            Rep. Becky Lockhart
            Rep. Paul Ray
            Rep. Jennifer Seelig
            Rep. Larry Wiley
            Rep. Carl Wimmer             

Staff Present:    Mr. Stewart Smith, Policy Analyst
            Ms. Linda Error, Committee Secretary

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

Rep. Aagard called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Ray moved to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2010 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep Ferry, Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Oda, Rep. Seelig, and Rep. Wiley absent for the vote.

1st Sub. H.B. 78    Weapons Revisions (Rep. S. Sandstrom)

Rep. Sandstrom further presented the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Greenwood moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 30 through 33 :    

             30          (1) (a) A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to
             31      the extent that [he or she] the person reasonably believes that force
  or a threat of force       is necessary to defend

             32      [himself] the person or a third person against [such other's] another person's imminent use of
             33      unlawful force. [However, that]


2.    Page 3, Lines 76 through 78 :    

             76          (1) As used in this section, "threatening manner" does not include
  :

    (a) the possession of a dangerous weapon whether visible or concealed without additional behavior which is threatening; or
    (b)  
informing another

             77      person of the actor's possession of a dangerous weapon or displaying a dangerous weapon if the
             78      actor reasonably believes it to be necessary as provided in Section 76-2-402 .

The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Rep. Ferry, Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Oda, Rep. Seelig, and Rep. Wiley absent for the vote.

Spoke for the bill:    Ms. Crystal Perry, Utah Gun Club
            Mr. Paul Boyden, Utah Statewide Association of Prosecutors

Spoke to the bill:    Mr. Steven Gunn, Gun Violence Prevention Center

MOTION:    Rep. Greenwood moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Oda, and Rep. Seelig absent for the vote.

H.B. 197    Custodial Interference Amendments (Rep. C. Wimmer)

Rep. Wimmer presented the bill to the committee.

Spoke against the bill:    Mr. Stewart Ralphs, Utah Domestic Violence Council

Spoke for the bill:        Mr. Jeff Rifleman, attorney, Spencer, McArthur and Rogers
                Mr. Michael Peckham, private citizen
                Mr. Anthony Calderone, private citizen
                Ms. Michelle Peckham, private citizen
                Mr. Brian Nathan Godfrey, private citizen
                Mr. Jahn Curran, private citizen

MOTION:    Rep. Litvack moved to proceed to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
                


H.B. 202    Fireworks Amendments (Rep. R. Menlove)



Rep. Menlove presented the bill to the committee with the assistance of Mr. Ron Morris, State Fire Marshall.

MOTION:    Rep. Greenwood moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 4, Lines 100 through 101 :    

             100          (b) The state fire marshal shall make the list available
{   to the public in electronic form

             101      or in other forms selected by the state fire marshal.  
}
  on the website maintained by the Department of Public Safety.      


The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Rep. Beck, Rep. Lockhart, and Rep. Wimmer absent for the vote.

Spoke for the bill:    Mr. Mike Brady, local fire arts community
            Ms. Rebecca Parr, local fire arts community

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Lockhart absent for the vote.

H.B. 201    State Fire Marshal Modifications (Rep. R. Menlove)

Rep. Menlove presented the bill to the committee with the assistance of Mr. Ron Morris, State Fire Marshall. (handout)

MOTION:    Rep. Greenwood moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 50 :    

             50          (i) a permit to discharge all display fireworks, special effects, and flame effects
  performances       ; and


2.    Page 5, Line 126 :    

             126          (13)
  (a)       "Flame effects operator" means a person licensed under Section 53-7-223 who,


3.    Page 5, Lines 128 through 131 :    

             128          
{   (a)   }        (i)       storage, setup, operations, teardown, devices, equipment, overseeing assistants and


             129
     support personnel, and preventing accidental discharge; and
             130          
{   (b)   }        (ii)       completion of the sequence of control system functions that release the fuel for

             131      ignition to cause combustion and create the flame effects.
    
  (b)(i) "Flame effects operator" does not include a person who participates in a meeting, as limited under Subsection (13)(b)(ii), with other persons solely to receive training, to practice, or provide instruction regarding flame effects performance.

    (ii) A meeting under Subsection (13)(b)(i) may include a nonpaying and unsolicited audience of not more than 25 persons.  

    

4.    Page 9, Line 275 :    

             275          (1)
  (a)       A person may not purchase[,] or possess[, or discharge] display [or] fireworks,


5.    Page 10, Line 277 :    

             277      has obtained [a display or special effects operator] the appropriate license from the division
  , except under Subsection (1)(b)       .

    
  (b)(i) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to any person who participates in a meeting, as limited under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), with other persons solely to receive training, to practice, or provide instruction regarding flame effects performance.

    (ii) A meeting under Subsection (1)(b)(i) may include a nonpaying and unsolicited audience of not more than 25 persons.  


The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Seelig, and Rep. Wimmer absent for the vote.

Spoke for the bill:    Mr. Jim Judd, Professional Firefighters of Utah
            Chief Bradley Wardle, Fire Chief, West Jordan Fire Department

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed, with Rep. Oda voting in opposition. Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Seelig, and Rep. Wimmer were absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Wiley moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with

Rep. Litvack, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Seelig, and Rep. Wimmer absent for the vote.

Rep. Aagard adjourned the meeting at 4:02 p.m.
















                        ___________________
                        Rep. Douglas Aagard, Chair