MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

20 House Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 24, 2016

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. Glenda VanWagenen, 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 7:58 a.m.

Vice Chair Nelson assumed the chair.

H.B. 377         Grandparents Rights Amendments (L. Christensen)

Rep. Christensen explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Monte Crosland and Carolyn Crosland, citizens.

Spoke to the bill:        Laurieann Thorpe, citizen

Spoke for the bill:       Dan Fazzini, citizen

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Cutler, Rep. King, Rep. Snow, and Rep. Wheatley voting in opposition and with Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

H.B. 234         Adoptive and Foster Parents Amendments (A. Romero)

Rep. Romero explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Paul Burke, citizen

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

1.    Page 1, Lines 19 through 21:   

19AMENDS:

20    {  62A-4a-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382

21   62A-4a-205.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 237  }

2.         Page 1, Lines 28 through 52:

            Delete lines 28 through 52.

            Renumber the remaining subsections accordingly.

SUBSTITUTE

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to replace H.B. 234 with 1st Substitute H.B.234. The motion failed with Rep. Cox voting in favor.

The original motion passed unanimously with Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Wheatley moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion failed in a tie vote with Rep. Greene, Rep. Hall, Rep. King, Rep. Snow, and Rep. Wheatley voting in favor and With Rep. Stratton absent for with vote.

H.B. 393         Sovereign Marriage Authority (L. Christensen)

The bill was not considered.

H.B. 365         Campus Free Expression Act (K. Coleman)

The bill was not considered.

H.B. 262         Campus Anti-harassment act (K. Coleman)

Rep. Coleman explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Joseph Cohn, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Handout:         "Campus Free Expression Act: Protecting Student Speech"

Spoke against the bill: David Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education

MOTION:     Rep. Cox moved to amend H.B. 262 the following amendment:

1.    Page 2, Lines 53 through 56:   

53   (a) unwelcome;

54   (b) discriminatory on the basis of {  race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age,

55sex, or sexual orientation  }  membership in a class protected under:

       (i) Title 34A, Chapter 5, Utah Antidiscrimination Act, notwithstanding Section 34A-5-102.5; or

       (ii) Title 57, Chapter 21, Utah Fair Housing Act, notwithstanding Section 57-21-2.5  ; and

56   (c) so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so undermines and detracts

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. King absent for the vote.

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

Chair Christensen adjourned the meeting at 9:58 a.m.

________________________________________________

LaVar Christensen, Chair