Friday, January 19, 2007

Today legislative committees tackle college tuition and immigration, seatbelt laws, the free exercise of religion, limits on campaign contributions to statewide elected officials, and improving east-west transportation in Salt Lake County.

This morning

HOUSE EDUCATION (in W135 at 8 am) debates HB 224, which next year would repeal the nonresident college tuition exemption offered to students who are illegal immigrants but have attended a Utah high school for at least three years and graduated. To qualify for resident tuition, which costs much less, students will need to register as entering students before May 1st, 2007.

SENATE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY (in W020) will debate SB 36, which changes the law that requires drivers or passengers age 19 or older to use seat belts. Currently, the law can be enforced only when the vehicle is pulled over for another offense. Under SB 36 a vehicle could be stopped for a seat belt offense alone.

HOUSE BUSINESS AND LABOR (in W010) HB 260 is a proposal to prevent so-called double-dipping by canceling a state retiree's retirement allowance if the retiree is re-employed or retained on contract by the same agency within 12 months after retirement.

HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (in W125 at 9 am) HB 218 creates an ombudsman for CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, to help the public and patients with eligibility, coverage and complaints. The ombudsman also would make recommendations to the Department of Health on the program.

HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY (in W025 at 9 am) HB 244 repeals the Utah Technology Commission.

HCR 3 is a resolution urging Congress to stop Internet pornography to children and employees.

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT (in W015 at 9:01 am) will discuss HB 20, which makes the first week of May State Water Week, in recognition of the importance of water conservation, quality and supply in Utah.

This afternoon

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (in W020 at 2 pm) discusses SB 111, which proposes to protect the free exercise of religion. It requires the state to demonstrate a compelling government interest by clear and convincing evidence to justify substantially burdening a person's free exercise of religion.

Also in committee is SB 116, a proposal to limit to $10,000 the amount anyone except a political party can contribute to state wide office candidates or incumbents. Statewide officers are governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor, state treasurer and attorney general.

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION (in W135 at 2 pm) debates HB 82, which would relax seatbelt laws by lifting restrictions on nighttime driving and passenger limits for drivers under the age of 17.

HB 108 proposes that the Department of Transportation study the need for east-west transportation improvements in Salt Lake County and report back by September 2008. The $1.5 million dollar study would look at limited-access highways, arterial highway improvements and multi-modal transportation projects.

Also in committee is HB 52, which would increase driver license fees to raise $5.7 million for the state Transportation Fund.

HOUSE JUDICIARY (in W010 at 2 pm) HB 228 would make the murder of a child younger than 14 a capital offense, and amends the definition of aggravated murder, which is also a capital offense, to include the intentional murder of a child.

HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (in W025) will hear HB 97, which creates a $2 contribution check-off on motor vehicle registrations. The check-off is expected to yield about $8,000 a year and would go into a special account for the Board of Parks and Recreation. It would be used to protect access to public lands for off-highway vehicles and educate the public about OHV use.

SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION (in W130 at 2 pm) will hear SJR 5, a Constitutional amendment to allow land used for recreation or open space to pay property tax based on the value of the land for those uses. The Constitution already allows agricultural land to be assessed based on its value for agricultural use.

Also in committee is HB 26, which proposes to exempt from the personal property tax: mobile homes, manufactured homes and personal property that has to be registered with the state before it can be used on public highways, waterways, on public land or in the air.

Sandy Peck

League of Women Voters, 3804 Highland Drive 8-D, Salt Lake City UT 84106

(801)272-8683 fax (801)272-5942 www.lwvutah.org

Return to Legislative Updates ** Return to Legislative News ** Return to Home Page