H.B. 90

             1     

WOMEN IN THE ECONOMY COMMISSION

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jennifer M. Seelig

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Utah Workforce Services Code to enact the Women in the
             10      Economy Commission Act.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    enacts the Women in the Economy Commission Act, including:
             14              .    defining terms;
             15              .    creating the commission;
             16              .    establishing the purposes, powers, and duties of the commission; and
             17              .    requiring reporting; and
             18          .    provides a sunset date.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25           63I-1-235 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 278
             26      ENACTS:
             27           35A-11-101 , Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28           35A-11-102 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29           35A-11-201 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30           35A-11-202 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31           35A-11-203 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 35A-11-101 is enacted to read:
             35     
CHAPTER 11. WOMEN IN THE ECONOMY COMMISSION ACT

             36     
Part 1. General Provisions

             37          35A-11-101. Title.
             38          This chapter is known as the "Women in the Economy Commission Act."
             39          Section 2. Section 35A-11-102 is enacted to read:
             40          35A-11-102. Definitions.
             41          As used in this chapter:
             42          (1) "Commission" means the Women in the Economy Commission created in Section
             43      35A-11-201 .
             44          (2) "State institution of higher education" is as defined in Section 53B-3-102 .
             45          Section 3. Section 35A-11-201 is enacted to read:
             46     
Part 2. Commission

             47          35A-11-201. Women in the Economy Commission created.
             48          (1) There is created within the department a commission known as the "Women in the
             49      Economy Commission."
             50          (2) The commission shall consist of 11 members as follows:
             51          (a) one senator appointed by the president of the Senate;
             52          (b) one senator appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
             53          (c) one representative appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
             54          (d) one representative appointed by the minority leader of the House of
             55      Representatives;
             56          (e) the executive director of the department, or the executive director's designee; and
             57          (f) six members appointed by the governor as follows:
             58          (i) a representative of a business with fewer than 50 employees that has been awarded


             59      for work flexibility or work-life balance;
             60          (ii) a representative of a business with 50 or more employees, but fewer than 500
             61      employees, that has been awarded for work flexibility or work-life balance;
             62          (iii) a representative of a business with 500 or more employees that has been awarded
             63      for work flexibility or work-life balance;
             64          (iv) an individual who has experience in demographic work and is employed by a state
             65      institution of higher education;
             66          (v) one individual from a nonprofit organization that addresses issues related to
             67      domestic violence; and
             68          (vi) one individual with managerial experience with labor unions.
             69          (3) (a) A member appointed under Subsection (2)(f) shall serve for a four-year term.
             70          (b) Notwithstanding the term requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor may
             71      adjust the length of the commission members' terms to ensure that the terms are staggered so
             72      that approximately one-half of the members are appointed under Subsection (2)(f) each year.
             73          (c) When a vacancy occurs in a position appointed by the governor under Subsection
             74      (2)(f), the governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the
             75      commission member being replaced.
             76          (d) Members appointed under Subsection (2)(f) may be removed by the governor for
             77      cause.
             78          (e) A member appointed under Subsection (2)(f) shall be removed from the
             79      commission and replaced by the governor if the member is absent for three consecutive
             80      meetings of the commission without being excused by the chair of the commission.
             81          (f) A member serves until the member's successor is appointed and qualified.
             82          (4) In appointing the members under Subsection (2)(f), the governor shall:
             83          (a) take into account the geographical makeup of the commission; and
             84          (b) strive to appoint members who are knowledgeable or have an interest in issues
             85      related to women in the economy.
             86          (5) (a) The commission shall select two members to serve as cochairs:
             87          (i) one cochair shall be from the public sector; and
             88          (ii) one cochair shall be from the private sector.
             89          (b) Subject to the other provisions of this Subsection (5), the cochairs are responsible


             90      for the call and conduct of meetings.
             91          (c) The cochairs shall call and hold meetings of the commission at least every two
             92      months.
             93          (d) One of the bimonthly meetings described in Subsection (5)(c) shall be held while
             94      the Legislature is convened in its annual general session.
             95          (e) One or more additional meetings may be called upon request by a majority of the
             96      commission's members.
             97          (6) (a) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum.
             98          (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
             99          (7) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
             100      may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
             101          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             102          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
             103          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             104      63A-3-107 .
             105          (8) The department shall provide staff support to the commission.
             106          Section 4. Section 35A-11-202 is enacted to read:
             107          35A-11-202. Purpose -- Powers and duties of the commission.
             108          (1) The commission's purpose is to:
             109          (a) increase public and government understanding of the current and future impact and
             110      needs of the state's women in the economy and how those needs may be most effectively and
             111      efficiently met;
             112          (b) identify and recommend implementation of specific policies, procedures, and
             113      programs to respond to the rights, needs, and impact of women in the economy; and
             114          (c) facilitate coordination of the functions of public and private entities concerned with
             115      women in the economy.
             116          (2) The commission shall:
             117          (a) facilitate the communication and coordination of public and private entities that
             118      provide services to women or protect the rights of women;
             119          (b) study, evaluate, and report on the status and effectiveness of policies, procedures,
             120      and programs that provide services to women or protect the rights of women;


             121          (c) study and evaluate the policies, procedures, and programs implemented by other
             122      states that address the needs of women in the economy or protect the rights of women;
             123          (d) facilitate and conduct the research and study of issues related to women in the
             124      economy;
             125          (e) provide a forum for public comment on issues related to women in the economy;
             126          (f) provide public information on women in the economy and the services available to
             127      women; and
             128          (g) encourage state and local governments to analyze, plan, and prepare for the impact
             129      of women in the economy on services and operations.
             130          (3) To accomplish its duties, the commission may:
             131          (a) request and receive from a state or local government agency or institution summary
             132      information relating to women in the economy, including:
             133          (i) reports;
             134          (ii) audits;
             135          (iii) projections; and
             136          (iv) statistics;
             137          (b) apply for and accept grants or donations for uses consistent with the duties of the
             138      commission from public or private sources; and
             139          (c) appoint one or more special committees to advise and assist the commission.
             140          (4) Money received under Subsection (3)(b) shall be:
             141          (a) accounted for and expended in compliance with the requirements of federal and
             142      state law; and
             143          (b) continuously available to the commission to carry out the commission's duties.
             144          (5) (a) A member of a special committee described in Subsection (3)(c):
             145          (i) shall be appointed by the commission;
             146          (ii) may be:
             147          (A) a member of the commission; or
             148          (B) an individual from the private or public sector; and
             149          (iii) notwithstanding Section 35A-11-201 , may not receive reimbursement or pay for
             150      any work done in relation to the special committee.
             151          (b) A special committee described in Subsection (3)(c) shall report to the commission


             152      on the progress of the special committee.
             153          Section 5. Section 35A-11-203 is enacted to read:
             154          35A-11-203. Annual report.
             155          (1) The commission shall annually prepare and publish a report directed to the:
             156          (a) governor;
             157          (b) Education Interim Committee;
             158          (c) Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee;
             159          (d) Executive Appropriations Committee;
             160          (e) Legislative Management Committee;
             161          (f) Business, Economic Development, and Labor Appropriations Subcommittee; and
             162          (g) State Council on Workforce Services.
             163          (2) The report described in Subsection (1) shall:
             164          (a) describe how the commission fulfilled its statutory purposes and duties during the
             165      year; and
             166          (b) contain recommendations on how the state should act to address issues relating to
             167      women in the economy.
             168          Section 6. Section 63I-1-235 is amended to read:
             169           63I-1-235. Repeal dates, Title 35A.
             170          (1) Title 35A, Utah Workforce Services Code, is repealed July 1, 2015.
             171          (2) Title 35A, Chapter 8, Part 7, Utah Housing Corporation Act, is repealed July 1,
             172      2016.
             173          (3) Title 35A, Chapter 8, Part 18, Transitional Housing and Community Development
             174      Advisory Council, is repealed July 1, 2014.
             175          (4) Title 35A, Chapter 11, Women in the Economy Commission Act, is repealed July
             176      1, 2016.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-29-14 9:58 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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