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Business, Labor, and Economic Development Interim Committee

MINUTES OF

BUSINESS, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTERIM COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 22, 1998 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 403 State Capitol


Members Present:
    Rep. Peter C. Knudson, Chair
    Sen. David L. Buhler
    Sen. Eddie "Ed" P. Mayne     Sen. Michael G. Waddoups
    Sen. Blaze D. Wharton
    Rep. Gerry A. Adair
    Rep. Eli H. Anderson
    Rep. Patrice M. Arent
    Rep. Afton B. Bradshaw
    Rep. Katherine M. Bryson
    Rep. Don E. Bush
     Rep. Wayne A. Harper
    Rep. Bradley T. Johnson
    Rep. Brad King
    Rep. Loraine T. Pace
    Rep. Glenn L. Way
    Rep. David L. Zolman, Sr.

Members Absent:
    Sen. L. Steven Poulton, Chair
    Rep. Steve Barth

Staff Present:
    Mary Catherine Perry,
        Research Analyst    
    Patricia Owen,                 Associate General Counsel     Beverlee LeCheminant,
        Legislative Secretary

Note:    Names of others present and copies of information distributed at the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1.     Call to Order - Rep. Knudson called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

2.     Committee Business -

     MOTION: Sen. Buhler moved to approve the minutes of the November 19, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

    Ms. Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel, briefly reviewed the Utah Tomorrow strategic plan and how it pertains to the committee's prioritization of study items. She indicated that Legislative Management Committee has requested that in the prioritization of the study items, each committee consider how the Utah Tomorrow goals and achieving its objectives may be part of the study process.

    Ms. Mary Catherine Perry, Research Analyst, explained the format of the committee survey and asked committee members to return the surveys by the end of the meeting.

3.    Review of Potential Study Items for the 1998 Interim Period -

        Rep. Bradshaw proposed that the committee study Item #207, Public Transit Issues. She indicated that these are business issues related to public transit.
    Sen. Scott Howell proposed that the committee study Item #70, 2002 Legislature Date.

    Sen. Ed Mayne proposed that the committee study Item #82, Out-of-State Contractors, and Item #12, Employment in Film Industry.

    Rep. Sheryl Allen proposed that the committee study Item #21, Prescription Coverage.

    Sen. Pete Suazo proposed that the committee study Item #182, Pay Per View Boxing.

    Mayor Henry J. Dickamore appeared for Senator David Steele to propose that the committee study Item #16, Insurance Coverage Denial.

    Mr. Bill Holthaus, Clearfield Police, appeared for Senator David Steele to propose that the committee study Item #17, Landlord Rights. He distributed two handouts titled "Crime Free Lease Addendum" and "The Clearfield Crime Free Multi-housing Program."

    Rep Brian Allen proposed that the committee study Item #215, Privatizing Workers' Compensation.

    Rep. John Valentine proposed that the committee study Item #9, Consumer Protection Related Insurance Products; Item #14, Forfeiture Law; and Item #193, Taxes and the 2002 Olympics.

    Rep. Patrice Arent proposed that the committee study Item #13, Expiring Housing Contracts. Mr. Steve Erickson, Utah Housing Technical Assistance Program, gave a brief overview of the contracts of privately-owned public housing assistance.

    Rep. Patrice Arent also proposed that the committee study Item #104, Pharmacist Functions.
    Rep. Gerry Adair proposed that the committee study Item #10, Definitions of "Worker" and "Employer"; and Item #119, Statute of Limitations.

    Rep. Wayne Harper proposed that the committee study Item #24, Usury Laws.

    Sen. Dave Buhler proposed that the committee study Item #22, Restaurant Liquor Licensees.
    
    Rep. Evan Olsen, proposed that the committee study Item #83, Private Property Rights. Mr. Craig Call, Private Property Ombudsman, told the committee that the law needs to be revisited and changed to make it a better tool to resolve disputes.

    Rep. Brad King proposed that the committee study Item #11, Dental Assistants, and Item #152, Affordable Housing. Mr. Steve Erickson stated that the idea behind affordable housing is to try to give local governments some incentives rather than having them react to judicial or legislative mandates requiring affordable housing production.

    Rep. Knudson informed the committee that Rep. Keele Johnson would like to propose that the committee study Item #88, Utah Technical Finance Corporation.

    Rep. Knudson asked the committee to consider studying Childhood Immunizations.

        Sen. Hillyard proposed that the committee study Item #18, Misleading Advertising.

4.    Reports from Executive Branch Departments and Commissions

     A.    Labor Commission - Mr. Lee Ellertson, Commissioner, gave a brief overview of the structure of the Utah Labor Commission and its transition from the Industrial Commission. He provided committee members with copies of the Commission's report.

     B.    Department of Commerce - Mr. Doug Borba, Executive Director, gave a brief overview of the structure of the Department of Commerce. He provided committee members with an organizational chart showing the seven divisions under the Department of Commerce, their relevant statutes and rules, a list of recent legislative changes, and the department's rulemaking process.

    Mr. Craig Jackson, Director, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, distributed and reviewed a report from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

     C.    Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control - Mr. Ken Wynn, Director, distributed a handout on the functions and activities of the commission and the department and gave a brief overview of the report.

     D.    Department of Community and Economic Development - Mr. David Winder, Executive Director, gave a brief overview of the structure of the Department of Community and Economic Development. He provided committee members with a department organizational chart; information on the number of members on the department's boards, committees, and advisory councils; the department and divisions' mission statements; the department's budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 1999; and some guiding principles for the department.

     MOTION: Sen. Buhler moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:00 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.



        

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