Wednesday, September 19, 2007

THIS MORNING, after a report on the use of technology in public schools, the PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE will review draft legislation on the use of nuclear power in Utah. The chair of the Los Angeles Port Authority Commission and others will testify, beginning at 10:30 in W125.

The BUSINESS AND LABOR committee will consider this morning whether the law should be changed to protect the legal rights of alleged victims of sexual

harassment They'll discuss the problem of misclassifying employees as

independent contractors and how that affects competition, tax revenue, government services and employee benefits. Then the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Health Department, and United Way officials will all weigh in with suggestions for making health care for small business employees more accessible. (9 am in W125)

The HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Committee will also discuss improving health care accessibility after hearing testimony from health insurance representatives. Then they'll debate a bill requiring the Department of Health to distribute information about sexually transmitted diseases to health professionals and the public, including probable side effects if left untreated, and where to find local treatment providers. Insurance coverage of prosthetics and telemedicine, increased cancer screening, and a bill to prohibit smoking in cars when kids under 5 are present are also on the agenda. (9 am in W020)

The EDUCATION committee is considering new math curriculum standards, testing student skills on line, and how to use $50 million that the legislature recently appropriated for instructional technology. They'll also look at how well textbooks meet state curriculum standards. (9 am in

W135)

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS (9 to 11am in W025) will hear a report from Planning and Budget on how to make state government services better and more efficient. They will debate whether to reauthorize an election law that allows voters to choose or change party affiliation at the polls when they vote in a primary. The alternative would be to require voters to declare their party 30 days before the election. Several election law changes will be proposed by county clerks. Most are minor. However, allowing polling places in non-government buildings may raise security questions, and eliminating the September 15 campaign finance report for local school board candidates eliminates some public disclosure.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ( 9 am, W130) will hear annual reports from seven regional government associations, such as Wasatch Front Regional Council, and a progress report on a new Utah Public Notice Website where citizens can go to find out about upcoming open public meetings. A draft bill to make local government campaign finance reports more accessible by putting them on a repository website will be considered.

THIS AFTERNOON

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT will discuss funding for the perpetual care of hazardous and radioactive waste facilities as long as they remain dangerous. Air Quality Planning and Public Lands Policy will be discussed, too. Public comment is invited.

(2 pm in W125)

The TRANSPORTATION Committee(2 to 4 pm in W015) will hear reports on new road projects and recent appropriations to preserve transportation corridors. Then they will discuss changes in state law and the state budget that would be needed to comply with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.

The REVENUE AND TAXATION Committee (meeting from 2 to 4:30 pm in W135) will discuss proposed legislation on business taxes, including the corporate franchise tax and a research and development income tax credit. Property taxes, including those imposed by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and a general public hearing on property tax issues at 3:30 are also on the agenda.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (2 pm in W020) Information on prison privatization will be provided to the committee by the Department of Corrections and University of Utah School of Social Work/ Criminal Justice Center. Expunging crimes that have been pardoned by the Board of Pardons, penalties for modifying a vehicle to hide and transport drugs, making salvia divinorum a controlled substance and amending the Material Harmful to Minors Act will be discussed as well.

JUDICIARY (2 pm in W130) will hear reports on Justice Courts, divorce issues, child custody, child support guidelines and wrongful death amendments

WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

will debate two draft bills: Utah Venture Capital Enhancement Act Amendments and Employment Security Act Amendments. They'll also hear presentations on tourism and on the training of senior and disability populations for employment.

Sandy Peck

LWVU Executive Director

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