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MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

Room 20, West Office Building

February 26, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Kay L. McIff, Chair
                Rep. Lee B. Perry, Vice Chair
                Rep. Patrice Arent                
                Rep. LaVar Christensen
                Rep. Brian M. Greene
                Rep. Craig Hall
                Rep. Eric K Hutchings
                Rep. Brian S. King
                Rep. V. Lowry Snow
                
        
STAFF PRESENT:        Ms. Chelsea Lloyd, Policy Analyst
                Ms. Linda Black, Committee Secretary
    

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

Vice Chair Perry called the meeting to order at 8:08 a.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2013 meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Hutchings, Rep. King, Rep. Snow and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

H.B. 111    Eminent Domain Amendments (Rep. L. Perry)

Rep. Perry relinquished the chair to Rep. Hutchings, and presented the bill to the committee.

Rep. Perry moved to amend the bill as follows:


1.    Page 6, Lines 168 through 176 :    

             168          
{   (3) (a) If a request under this section involves an allegation of a taking by physical

             169      occupation, a private property owner may request that the mediator or arbitrator authorize an
             170      appraisal of the just compensation that would be due to the property owner if a taking has
             171      occurred.
             172          (b) If the mediator or arbitrator determines that an appraisal is reasonably necessary to
             173      reach a resolution, the mediator or arbitrator may:
             174          (i) have an appraisal prepared by an independent appraiser; and
             175          (ii) require the entity that is alleged to have physically taken the property to

pay the
             176      cost of the appraisal.  
}


2.    Page 14, Line 427 through Page 15, Line 451 :    

             427          

{   (4) (a) If an entity seeks to acquire property by eminent domain or intends to use

             428      eminent domain to acquire property if the entity cannot acquire the property in a voluntary
             429      transaction, the entity shall prepare and provide to the property owner as early as practicable in
             430      the negotiation process an appraisal or written calculation of the amount to be offered by the
             431      entity for the property.
             432          (b) The written calculation shall separately state the fair market value of the property to
             433      be acquired and any damages to the remaining real property in accordance with Section
             434      78B-6-511 .
             435          (c) A person making the appraisal or written calculation shall:
             436          (i) inspect the property in the process of providing the appraisal or calculation; and
             437          (ii) notify the property owner or the owner's representative in advance that the property
             438      owner or property owner's representative may accompany the person making the appraisal or
             439      calculation during the inspection of the property.
             440          (d) An entity may not offer an amount that is less than the fair market value of the
             441      property to be acquired together with any damages to the remaining real property determined in
             442      a manner consistent with the requirements of this part.
             443          (5) (a) If the acquisition of a part of a property would leave its owner with an
             444      uneconomic remnant, the entity shall:
             445          (i) make an offer to acquire the entire property for the property's fair market value; or


             446          (ii) offer compensation in an amount that equals or exceeds the fair market value of the
             447      entire property.
             448          (b) If an entity compensates a property owner for an uneconomic remnant, but does not
             449      take title of the uneconomic remnant, the property owner may keep the uneconomic remnant.
             450          (c) An entity may not acquire an uneconomic remnant over the objection of the
             451      property owner.  
}


The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. King, Rep. Snow, and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

Spoke in favor
of the bill:        Mr. Craig Call

Spoke in opposition
to the bill:        Mr. Mark Ward    Utah Association of Counties

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved pass the bill out favorably, as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Christensen and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

Rep. Perry resumed the chair.

H.J.R. 9    Joint Resolution Recommending a Name for New Federal Courthouse (Rep. Johnny Anderson) (handout)

Rep. J. Anderson presented the resolution to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously, with Chair McIff absent for the vote.

Rep. Perry relinquished the chair to Rep. Hutchings.

H.B. 149    Amendments to Utah Exemptions Act (Rep. E. Tanner)

Rep. Tanner presented the bill to the committee. Two handouts were provided for the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Hall moved to replace H.B. 149 with 1st Substitute H.B. 149 "Amendments to Utah Exemptions Act." The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Perry and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

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



1.    Page 2, Lines 52 through 53 :    

             52          (ii) [$20,000]
{   $30,000   }        $40,000       in value if the property claimed is the primary personal

             53      residence of the individual.

2.    Page 3, Lines 58 through 59 :    

             58          (ii) for property exempt under Subsection (2)(a)(ii), the maximum exemption may not
             59      exceed [$40,000]
{   $60,000   }        $80,000       per household.


The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Perry and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out favorably, as substituted and amended.

SUBSTITUTE
MOTION:    Rep. Greene moved to further amend the bill as follows:
    

1.    Page 6, Lines 173 through 174 :    

             173          (1) An individual is entitled to exemption of the following property up to an aggregate
             174      value of items in each subsection of [$500]
{   $1,000   }        $2,500       :


2.    Page 7, Lines 192 through 193 :    

             192          (b) An individual is entitled to an exemption, not exceeding [$2,500]
{   $3,000   }        $5,000       in value,

             193      of one motor vehicle.

The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Perry and Chair McIff absent for the vote.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Mr. Theron Morrison
                Mr. David Berry

Spoke in opposition
to the bill:            Mr. Bruce Richards        Utah Credit Association (handout)

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out favorably, as substituted and amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Chair McIff absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Perry resumed the chair.

H.B. 192    County Clerk Misconduct Penalty (Rep. D. Layton)

Rep. Layton presented the bill to the committee.



Spoke to the bill:    Ms. Jacey Skinner    Utah Sentencing Commission

MOTION:    Rep. King moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Snow absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to place H.B. 192 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Snow absent for the vote.

H.B. 147    Utah Marriage Commission (Rep. L. Christensen)

Rep. Christensen presented the bill to the committee.

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


1.    Page 1, Lines 8 through 12 :    

             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Utah
{   Health   }        Human Services       Code to create the Utah Marriage Commission.

             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    creates the Utah Marriage Commission within the Department of
{   Health   }        Human Services       ; and


2.    Page 1, Lines 20 through 24 :    

             20          
{   26-1-40   }        62A-1-120       , Utah Code Annotated 1953

             21     
             22      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             23          Section 1. Section
{   26-1-40   }        62A-1-120       is enacted to read:

             24          
{   26-1-40   }        62A-1-120       . Utah Marriage Commission.


3.    Page 2, Lines 32 through 33 :    

             32          (c) six
  current or former       representatives from marriage and family        studies       departments        , social or behavioral sciences departments, health sciences departments, colleges of law, or other related and supporting departments       at      {   state   } institutions of

             33      higher education
{   , as defined in Section 53B-3-102 ,   }        in this state, as shall be       appointed by the governor;


4.    Page 2, Line 34 :    

             34          (d) five representatives
  selected and       appointed by the governor from        among       the following groups:


5.    Page 2, Lines 41 through 43 :    

             41          (iv) marriage and family therapists who are or have been licensed under Title 58,
             42      Chapter 60, Part 3, Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act;
{   or   }        ;      

             43          (v) representatives of faith communities; and
  (vi) public health professionals;

(vii) representatives of domestic violence prevention organizations; or
(viii) legal professionals; and  


6.    Page 2, Lines 46 through 47 :    

             46          (4) (a) A member appointed under Subsections (3)(c) through (e) shall serve for a term
             47      of four years.
  A member may be appointed for subsequent terms.      


7.    Page 3, Lines 68 through 69 :    

             68          (a) promote coalitions and collaborative efforts to uphold and encourage a strong and
             69      healthy culture of strong and lasting marriages
  and stable families       ;


8.    Page 3, Lines 70 through 73 :    

             70          (b) contribute to greater awareness of the importance of marriage
  and       leading to reduced

             71      divorce and unwed parenthood in the state;
             72          (c) promote public policies that support marriage;
             73          (d) promote programs
  and activities       that educate        individuals and       couples on how to achieve strong, successful, and


9.    Page 3, Lines 76 through 77 :    

             76          (ii)
  classes and       services        , including those designed to promote strong, healthy, and lasting marriages and prevent domestic violence       ;

             77          (iii) marriage
  and relationship       education conferences        for the public and professionals       ; and


10.    Page 3, Lines 78 through 80 :    


             78          (iv) enrichment seminars;
{   and   }

             79          (e) actively promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen marriage, family,
             80      and the relationships between husband and wife and parents and children
{   .   }        ; and

(f) support volunteerism and private financial contributions and grants in partnership with the commission and in support of the commission's purposes and activities for the benefit of the state as provided in this section.  


11.    Page 3, Lines 81 through 83 :    

             81          (9) Funding for the commission shall be as approved by the Legislature through annual
             82      appropriations and the added funding sought by the commission from private contributions
  and grants       that

             83      support the duties of the commission described in Subsection (8).

The motion passed unanimously.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Mr. Paul Schvaneveldt        Weber State University
                Mr. Alan Hawkins        
                Rep. Jim Nielson        District 19
                Ms. Laura Bunker        United Families of Utah
                Mr. Bill Duncan        Sutherland Institute

MOTION:    Rep. King moved to pass the bill out favorably, as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Greene voting in opposition.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Vice Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 9:50 a.m.
                    



        


                                                                         ______________________________________
                            Kay L. McIff, Chair