MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

February 10, 2016

Members Present:                Rep. Jack R. Draxler, Chair

                                                Rep. Brad M. Daw, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Patrice M. Arent

                                                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck 

                                                Rep. Fred C. Cox

                                                Rep. Merrill F. Nelson

                                                Rep. Lee B. Perry

Rep. Val L. Peterson

                                                Rep. Dean Sanpei

Members Absent:                 Rep. Keith Grover

Staff Present:                        Mr. Brian J. Bean, Policy Analyst

                                                Ms. Sandra Hash, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 3:50 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2016 meeting. The

                        motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck absent for the vote.

H.B. 197         Lobbying by State Agencies Amendments (Rep. M. Roberts)

Rep. Roberts explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:                   Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Eagle Forum

                                                Zachary Frankel, Executive Director, Utah Rivers Council 

Spoke against the bill:             Jacey Skinner, General Counsel to the Governor

                                                 Kory Holdaway, Utah Public Employee's Association

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to replace H.B. 197 with 2nd Sub. The motion passed with Rep. Arent voting in opposition and Rep. Chavez-Houck absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 110         Inactive Voter Amendments (Rep. C. Hall)

Rep. Hall explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Mark Thomas, Director of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Mr. Thomas distributed the handout "Electing Non-Partisan State School Board Positions" to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to replace H.B. 110 with 2nd Sub. H.B. 110. The motion passed with Rep. Peterson voting in opposition.

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

H.B. 282         State Contractor Employee Health Coverage Amendments (Rep. J. Dunnigan)

Rep. Dunnigan explained the bill to the committee.

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

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to place the bill on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

H.J.R. 5          Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards (Rep. M. Nelson)

Rep. Nelson explained the resolution to the committee.

Spoke for the resolution:        Nicola Nelson, League of Women Voters of Utah

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Sanpei absent for the vote.

H.B. 220         Legislative Organization Amendments (Rep. L. Christensen)

Rep. Christensen explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke against the bill:            Chase Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Alliance for a Better Utah

                                                Rep. Brad King

Rep. Chavez-Houck distributed the handouts "Legislative makeup from origin of Legislative Management Committee" and "The Karras Company, Inc." to the committee.

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

                        Rep. Arent, Rep. Chavez-Houck, and Rep. Cox voting in opposition.

1st Sub. H.B. 10        Initiative and Referendum Amendments (Rep. B. Greene)

This bill was not considered at the meeting.

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

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

________________________________

Jack R. Draxler, Chair