Wednesday, June 23 , 2010

Interim study committees meet from 9 to noon and 2 to 5 on Capitol Hill today.
Annual Performance Reviews of Legislative Auditor, Fiscal Analyst, and Legislative Research and
General Counsel will be discussed at a meeting of the Subcommittee on Oversight at 8:00.  
(House 25)

THIS MORNING

The HEALTH SYSTEM REFORM TASK FORCE will be briefed by the Office of Healthcare Statistics
on development and use of Utah’s All Payer Database.  
They’ll review Implementation Oversight and Cost Containment workgroup assignments and get
updates on Risk Adjuster Board membership, federal health care reform and its tax consequences.
(Capitol 250)
 
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT will hear a water source protection
compliance report from the state Division of Drinking Water.  
They’ll consider efforts to increase the number of veterinarians in Utah and be updated on
West Tavaputs Plateau drilling by the Bill Barrett Corporation. (Senate 210)

REVENUE AND TAXATION starts with an overview of state and local revenues and economic trends.
A sales tax exemption for mining equipment will be examined.
Then lawsuits regarding equity and adequacy of the use of tax revenues for public education in
other states will be discussed.
(Capitol 445)
 
THIS AFTERNOON

The ETHICS INTERIM COMMITTEE is considering changing the Legislative Code of Conduct.
They’ll hear presentations from committee staff and from Utahns for Ethical Government, the group
circulating petitions to put a new code of conduct – including campaign contribution limits - on the
ballot. (Capitol 450)
The EDUCATION COMMITTEE will hear about post-secondary education and career planning,
using the website tool www.utahfutures.org < http://www.utahfutures.org/ >   
Athletic eligibility for transfer students and sunsetting the State Instructional Materials Commission
will be considered.  
Then the committee will discuss and hear comment on the schools’ core curriculum in American history, government, and civics,
including recommended instructional materials. (Capitol 445)
 
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY will review Utah’s net metering policy, including solar power
and policies of other states.  Net metering allows individuals to generate electric power and sell it
back to utilities.
Range management that uses pulse grazing and fungi to naturally sequester carbon is
also on the agenda. (House 20)
  

MORE MORNING COMMITTEES
 
WORKFORCE SERVICES & COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT will be updated on
the solvency of Utah’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.  The Governor’s Office of
Economic Development will discuss tax credits for motion picture production and a West Coast
marketing initiative.  The use of the phrase “liberally construed” in Workforce Services
administrative rules is on their minds as well.
 
TRANSPORTATION will consider railroad and railroad crossing amendments and how to opt out
of the REAL ID federal drivers’ license requirement (HB 234 last session).  The committee will hear
a progress report from the Utah Department of Transportation on their priority list of new roads.  
Proposed additions or deletions from the state highway system will be discussed.  (House 20)
 
JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE will be updated by the
Administrative Office of the Courts on how recent budget cuts are affecting court services
and functions.  Mandatory Education for Divorcing Parents and Dispute Resolution programs
will be discussed.  Other decisions before the committee are whether to continue an
emergency services telecommunications charge and whether to require incarcerated
state and county inmates to use their own health insurance.  (House 30)
  
MORE AFTERNOON COMMITTEES

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS will talk about the 5-year plan
for state building construction, including building a joint State/Salt Lake Emergency Operations Center.
The committee will also address two elections questions:  When a new law is being challenged by
referendum, should it take effect before the referendum occurs? And can an initiative that gets
enough signatures for the ballot be taken off the ballot if it’s no longer “needed”?

BUSINESS & LABOR will discuss whether catastrophic insurance covering mental health conditions
should be sunsetted.  Health insurance mandates will be reviewed.  Construction trades licensing
and construction worker classification are also on the agenda. (Senate 210)
 
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES will get advice on how to schedule controlled substances
such as “spice,” tramadol and salvia divinorum.  The will also consider tamper-resistant
prescription forms and allowing athletes with concussions to return to play. (Capitol 250)
 
 
Sandy Peck