Wednesday, March 3 , 2010

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY

Today is the last day for standing committees. Some meet from 8 (or earlier) to 9.  Floor debate is 9 to noon and 2 to 5.  Two committee meetings are at noon. HOUSE RETIREMENT will hear HB 286, Retirement System Divestment .  It asks the Utah State Retirement Office to restrict investment of retirement funds in Iran’s petroleum sector.
HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is considering HB 459. It requires accountability and transparency from the Medicaid program; requires insurance companies to provide more information to consumers about their policies; and requires greater choice of benefit plans for employers in the defined contribution market of the health insurance exchange.

A second bill, HB 397 asks the Department of Health to conduct internal audits of Medicaid and make grants to public and nonprofit entities that could provide primary care to medically underserved populations.  The department could also contract with community based organizations to develop a model for a culturally and linguistically appropriate “medical home” for low income and medically underserved Utahns.
 
IN MORNING COMMITTEES

In SENATE BUSINESS AND LABOR , a way to finance and construct Salt Lake County highway projects is proposed in SB 215 . Salt Lake County could issue revenue bonds and turn the proceeds over to the Department of Transportation.

In SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SB 241 would save $800,000 by putting some less costly mental health drugs on the Medicaid preferred drug list.  The money saved would go to Medicaid for physician reimbursement, emergency dental services, to mandatory dental service providers, and community mental health services.   SJR 16 urges health care facilities to publish written information about payment policies, including discounts for prompt payment and financial assistance eligibility, amounts charged for procedures, and amounts paid for a procedure by Medicaid and Medicare.
HB 460 is before HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS . It directs the Board of Regents to approve Weber State University’s application to establish a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics engineering. The College of Eastern Utah would become a comprehensive regional college of Utah State University under Substitute SB 69. Also in committee, SJR 11 seeks approval to sell parts of the Winter Sports Park for real estate development.  Costs of maintenance and winter sports programs are exceeding revenues, which could be replenished by the sale.  
 

WHAT HAPPENED TUESDAY?
In House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
Kathy Van Dame reporting
Rep Becky Edwards' HB 169 Refinery Amendments requires refineries to consult with cities whenever land use changes are contemplated that are within 500 feet of a refinery.  This part is beneficial.
Unfortunately, it contains a poison pill, in that the cities "may not request from the refinery" certain types of information, including "information that is available in public record".  Neither the sponsor, nor Lee Peacock, who represents petroleum interests and testified in support, gave any reason for this restriction.  They simply said that the cities had not objected when a copy of the language was sent to them.  This bill was voted unanimously out of committee.  
HB 169  Refinery Amendments -- Rep Rebecca Edwards (R-NSL)
   http://le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0169.htm < http://le.utah.gov/%7E2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0169.htm >

In the House
Sherilyn Bennion and Sandy Peck reporting
A couple of bills of interest passed the House Tuesday morning.


HCR 14, R.S. 2477 Historic Roads Concurrent Resolution (M. Noel, R-Kane County), requests the federal government
to recognize a list of Utah roads that have historically been open to the public.

HB 395, Limitations of Actions Amendments (M. Noel, R-Kane) limits the liability of energy providers for emissions unless they violate specific statutory requirements or the person claiming damage can show unavoidable and clearly identifiable damage. There was considerable discussion about the term “irrefutable damage” being too strong.  Some members also noted that no such cases have occurred in Utah.

Monday the House passed HB 189, Closed Meeting Amendments (P. Painter, R-Juab, Carbon, Sanpete, Utah Counties), which exempts meetings at which water rights and water shares are discussed from the Utah Open Meetings Act.
 
In the Senate
Sandy Peck reporting
SB 150 Reading Requirements for Student Advancement (Karen Morgan – Salt Lake) passed the Senate 18-8-3.  It prohibits a school district from promoting a student in first, second and third grades to the next grade level if the child is not reading at or above grade level. Students with disabilities may be exempt.  School districts or charter schools provide parental notice and reading intervention.  
            Senator Luz Robles (Salt Lake) proposed an amendment to exempt students with limited English proficiency, which failed. The sponsor felt these students would receive enough help through reading intervention programs. Senator Howard Stephenson (Draper) proposed a Reading Education Stipend Program to pay for remediation, which also failed. Senator Pat Jones (Salt Lake) said that from her experience a new fund for outside help was not needed.  

What is needed is more funding for schools, which already have many well-trained reading specialists

Sandy Peck