The Tax Review Commission meeting at 7:30 this morning in W110 will review proposed individual income tax bills. Proposals include lower income tax rates, an earned income tax credit, tax breaks for college tuition and education savings, and deductions for health insurance premiums.
SB 36, Nick's Safety Belt Enforcement Law, is in HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE in W025. It changes the requirement that drivers or passengers age 19 or older must use seat belts. Currently, that law can be enforced only when the vehicle is pulled over for another offense. Under SB 36 the vehicle could be stopped for a seatbelt violation only. The change would last until 2010 and the Transportation Interim committee would study how effectively it reduces death and injuries.
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT (8 am in W 125) will discuss HB 370, which says that one-tenth of the revenue from severance taxes on oil and gas, up to a limit of $10 million, should go to the counties that produce the oil and gas. The money would go into tax stability and trust funds to use in years when county tax revenues are down.
This afternoon from 3 to 5 in Room W020 a fourth version of the student clubs bill, 4th substitute HB 236, is in SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. The original bill proposed numerous restrictions on clubs, their organization and operation , but the House passed a much shorter 3rd substitute that removed most of them. The committee will consider a 4th substitute adopted by the Senate Rules Committee that would restore those restrictions.
HB 348 in HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS would eliminate as an option for voters a county form of government consisting of a council and professional manager. The other options are county commission and executive-council. Voters could petition and vote on a different form of government without study, and county officers could not be elected in a non-partisan election. HB 348 would make it easier to reverse last November's election in Summit County of a council/manager government in place of the county commission..
HB 341 sets up an Attorney General Crime Violence Prevention Special Revenue Fund. This account could receive private donations from any source. The Attorney General would be required to spend the money on 13 specific crime prevention programs, but with the exception that if a donor designated a specific use for a gift, it could be used only for that purpose. The committee also may debate SCR 5, a Resolution Opposing the Divine Strake explosive test at the Nevada Test.
Sandy Peck
League of Women
Voters,
(801)272-8683 fax (801)272-5942
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