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JOINT RESOLUTION - NONBINDING OPINION

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QUESTION ON DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

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2017 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Norman K Thurston

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Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution directs the lieutenant governor to present an opinion question to
11     the legal voters of the state to determine whether voters desire that Utah become
12     exempt from Daylight Saving Time and, thus, avoid changing their clocks twice each
13     year.
14     Highlighted Provisions:
15          This resolution:
16          ▸     pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 16b, Nonbinding Statewide Public Opinion Questions,
17     directs the lieutenant governor to present an opinion question to the legal voters of
18     the state to determine whether voters desire that Utah become exempt from Daylight
19     Saving Time and, thus, avoid changing their clocks twice each year; and
20          ▸     directs the lieutenant governor to submit the opinion question on the ballot for the
21     2018 regular general election.
22     Special Clauses:
23          None
24     

25     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          WHEREAS, Utah can avoid the inconvenience of switching between Mountain
27     Standard Time and Mountain Daylight Saving Time twice each year by becoming exempt from

28     participation in Daylight Saving Time;
29          WHEREAS, in recent years, several bills and resolutions have been introduced in the
30     Legislature to seek a change in Utah's time zone or to exempt Utah from participating in
31     Daylight Saving Time;
32          WHEREAS, in a survey conducted by the Governor's Office of Economic
33     Development, only 15% of the respondents desired to continue switching between Mountain
34     Standard Time and Mountain Daylight Saving Time;
35          WHEREAS, before taking any action in relation to becoming exempt from participation
36     in Daylight Saving Time, the Legislature desires to know the will of the voters of the state; and
37          WHEREAS, Section 36-16b-202 provides a process for the Legislature to submit a
38     nonbinding opinion question to the legal voters of Utah in a regular general election:
39          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature directs the lieutenant
40     governor to submit the following nonbinding opinion question to the legal voters of Utah at the
41     2018 regular general election, to be held on November 6, 2018:
42     "Utah citizens are currently required to change their clocks twice each year between Mountain
43     Standard Time and Mountain Daylight Saving Time. Utah has the ability to avoid this
44     requirement by becoming exempt from participation in Daylight Saving Time.
45          SHOULD UTAH BECOME EXEMPT FROM DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME?
46          YES
47          NO".
48          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the lieutenant
49     governor, who is hereby directed, in accordance with Title 36, Chapter 16b, Nonbinding
50     Statewide Public Opinion Questions, to submit the language of the foregoing opinion question
51     at the 2018 regular general election, to be held November 6, 2018, to the legal voters of the
52     state for their approval or rejection.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel