MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

February 17, 2015

Members Present:                Rep. Jack Draxler, Chair

                                                Rep. Brad Daw, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Patrice Arent

                                                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck 

                                                Rep. Fred Cox

                                                Rep. Keith Grover

                                                Rep. Merrill Nelson

                                                Rep. Lee Perry

                                                Rep. Val Peterson 

Members Absent:                 Rep. Dean Sanpei

Staff Present:                        Mr. Brian Bean, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Kathy Gessel, Committee Secretary

Note:     A list of visitors and handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.

H.B. 281         Revisions to Elections Law (Rep. F. Cox)

Rep. Cox explained the bill. The handouts, "Fair Elections For 2016" and "The Caucus Convention System" were distributed to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:         Mark Thomas, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Layne Beck, citizen

Spoke for the bill:        James Evans, Chairman, Utah Republican Party

                                       Clair Ellis, Utah Republican Constitution and Bylaws Committee

Spoke against the bill: Kirk Jowers, Co-founder, Count My Vote Initiative

David Irvine, citizen

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion failed with Rep. Cox, Rep. Grover and Rep. Daw voting in favor.

S.B. 46            Juvenile Court Judge Amendments (Sen. C. Bramble)

Rep. Peterson explained the bill.

Spoke to the bill:        Rick Schwermer, Assistant State Court Administrator

Spoke for the bill:       Rick Schwermer, Assistant State Court Administrator

MOTION:     Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

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

Chair Draxler adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m.

__________________________

Rep. Jack Draxler, Chair