MINUTES OF THE HOUSE

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 445, State Capitol

March 9, 2015

Members Present:                Rep. Lee B. Perry, Chair

                                                Rep. Douglas V. Sagers, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Joel K. Briscoe

                                                Rep. Melvin R. Brown

                                                Rep. Scott H. Chew

                                                Rep. Jack R. Draxler

                                                Rep. Susan Duckworth

                                                Rep. Steve G. Handy

                                                Rep. Timothy D. Hawkes

                                                Rep. Mike K. McKell

                                                Rep. Michael E. Noel

                                                Rep. Kraig Powell

                                                Rep. Scott D. Sandall

                                                Rep. Mike Schultz      

Staff Present:                        J Brian Allred, Policy Analyst

An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Perry called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Schultz moved to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2015, meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Draxler, Rep. Handy, Rep. Noel,

                        Rep. Powell, Rep. Sagers, and Rep. Sandall absent for the vote. 

S.B. 105          Public Lands Act Amendments (Sen. J. Dabakis)

Sen. Dabakis explained the bill to the committee.

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

1.    Page 1, Lines 9 through 10

Senate 2nd Reading Amendments

       2-23-2015:   

9     This bill requires the attorney general to file a petition Ŝ➔ [by June 30, 2015,] Ŝ

9a {  demanding a

10determination of the ownership of  }  seeking title to the  public lands.

2.    Page 1, Lines 13 through 14b

       a.Senate 2nd Reading Amendments

       b.2-23-2015:       

13   ►      requires the attorney general to file a petition in federal court by June 30, Ŝ➔ [2015]

13a2016 Ŝ ,

14 {  demanding a determination of the ownership of  }  toward securing title to the  public lands , consistent with Utah law and the Utah enabling act ; Ŝ➔ [and]

14a  ► requires the Commission for Stewardship of Public Lands to make a

14brecommendation; and Ŝ

3.    Page 2, Lines 28 through 29:   

28attorney general shall file a petition in federal court on behalf of the state {  demanding a

29determination on the issue of ownership of  }  toward securing title to the  public lands , consistent with Utah law and the Utah enabling act .

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Noel, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Sagers absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Draxler moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Hawkes, Rep. Sagers, Rep. Sandall, and Rep. Schultz voting in opposition and Rep. Noel and Rep. Powell absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 25        Joint Resolution Requesting Analysis of Colorado River Management Strategies (Rep. J. Briscoe)

Rep. Briscoe explained the resolution to the committee.

Spoke to the resolution:          Eric Millis, Director, Division of Water Resources and                                                       Commissioner, Interstate Streams

                                               Steve Erickson, Great Basin Water Network

Spoke against the resolution: Mark Ward, Utah Association of Counties

                                               Redge Johnson, citizen

MOTION:     Rep. Duckworth moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion failed with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Chew, and Rep. Duckworth voting in favor.

1st Sub. S.B. 48         Evaluating Federal Land (Sen. A. Osmond)

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Handy moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with

                       Rep. Brown, Rep. Chew, Rep. Draxler, and Rep. Hawkes voting in opposition and                        Rep. McKell and Rep. Noel absent for the vote.

H.B. 223         Little Sahara State Park Designation (Rep. S. Eliason)

Rep. Eliason explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Jeff Rasmussen, Deputy Director, State Parks, and Kevin Carter, Director, State Institutional Trust Lands Administration.

MOTION:     Rep. Handy moved to adopt 2nd Sub. H.B. 223. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Noel absent for the vote.

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

1.    Page 2, Lines 47 through 49:   

47   (iii) the Legislative Management Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture,

48and Environment  Interim  Committee approve the plan to expand the state park system by including the

49Little Sahara Recreation Area.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:     Rep. Handy moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Noel absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Brown moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with

                       Rep. Briscoe, Rep. McKell, and Rep. Noel absent for the vote.

Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m.

Lee B. Perry, Chair