MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 30, House Building

March 1, 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. Keith Grover

                                                Rep. Merrill F. Nelson

                                                Rep. Lee B. Perry

Rep. Val L. Peterson

Members Excused:               Rep. Dean Sanpei 

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

                                                Ms. Rosemary Young, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Draxler called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to approve the minutes of the February 29, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck and Rep. Nelson absent for the vote.

H.B. 410         Military Tuition Waiver Amendments (Rep. C. Oda)

Rep. Oda explained the bill assisted by Brian Garrett, Salt Lake Military Affairs Committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Chris Krocker             National Guard Association of Utah

                                    Spencer Jenkins          Utah System of Higher Education

MOTION:     Rep. Arent moved to pass H.B. 410 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck and Rep. Nelson absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Perry moved to place H.B. 410 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck and Rep. Nelson absent for the vote.

S.B. 190          Open and Public Meetings Law Revisions (Sen. K. Mayne)

Sen. Mayne explained the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Daw moved to pass S.B. 190 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck and Rep. Nelson absent for the vote.

H.B. 425         Political Activities Amendments (Rep. B. Daw)

Rep. Daw explained the bill.

Spoke for the bill:        Stan Rasmussen         Sutherland Institute

Spoke against the bill: Mark Thomas            Director of Elections

                                                                        Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Spoke to the bill:         Connor Boyack         Libertas Institute

MOTION:     Rep. Arent moved to refer H.B. 425 to the Rules Committee for interim study.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:   Rep. Cox moved to hold the bill in committee. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Chavez-Houck absent for the vote.

H.B. 417         Vote by Mail Revisions (Rep. B. Daw)

Rep. Daw explained the bill.

Spoke for the bill:       Arie Van De Graaff    Utah Association of Counties

Spoke to the bill:        Mark Thomas             Director of Elections

                                                                        Office of the Lieutenant Governor

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 417 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 412         Vote by Mail Changes (Rep. S. Eliason)

This bill was not considered.

MOTION:     Rep. Peterson moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Draxler adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.

__________________________

Rep. Jack R. Draxler, Chair