MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

20 House Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

March 9, 2015

Members Present:                            Rep. LaVar Christensen, Chair

Rep. Merrill Nelson, Vice Chair

                                                            Rep. Fred C. Cox 

                                                            Rep. Bruce Cutler

                                                            Rep. Brian M. Greene

                                                            Rep. Craig Hall

                                                            Rep. Brian S. King

                                                            Rep. Curtis Oda

                                                            Rep. V. Lowry Snow

                                                            Rep. Kevin J. Stratton

                                                            Rep. Mark A. Wheatley

Staff Present:                                    Mr. Gregg Girvan, Policy AnalystMs. Linda Black, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Christensen called the meeting to order at 4:20 p.m.

Rep. Snow moved to approve the minutes of March 4, 2015, and March 6, 2015. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Cutler, Rep. Hall, Rep. King, and Rep. Oda absent for the vote.

S.B. 257          Antitrust Amendments (Sen. C. Bramble)

Sen. Bramble explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Nelson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Cutler, Rep. Hall, Rep. King, and Rep. Oda absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Nelson moved to place S.B. 257 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Cutler, Rep. Hall, Rep. King, and Rep. Oda absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Chair Christensen moved to recess five minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Christensen reconvened the meeting at 4:35.

S.B. 296          Antidiscrimination and Religious Freedom Amendments (Sen. S. Urquhart)

Sen. Urquhart explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Sen. S. Adams.

Spoke for the bill:                   Pastor Drew Reese, veteran

                                                Michael Weinholtz, CEO, CHG Management Inc.

                                                Nica Algood

                                                Eric Moutsos, former Salt Lake City Policeman

Spoke against the bill:            Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum

                                                Cherilyn Eagar

                                                Mark Terran

MOTION:     Rep. Stratton moved to extend discussion on the bill until 6:00 p.m. The motion passed with Rep. Cox, Rep. Cutler and Rep. Oda voting in opposition. Rep. Nelson was absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Snow moved to reconsider the previous motion. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Snow moved to hold S.B. 296 and be placed priority on the next agenda. The                         motion passed unanimously.

S.B. 282          Administrative Law Judge Amendments (Sen. M. Dayton)

This bill was not considered.

S.B. 236          Justice Court Judges Retirement Amendments (Sen. T. Weiler)

This bill was not considered.

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

Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

                                                                                                                                    ___________________________________

LaVar Christensen, Chair