Interim Committee Meetings: November 15, 2000

Business, Labor and Economic Development

Chairs: Sen. Hellewell/Rep. Hickman Staff: Mary Catherine Perry/Patricia Owen/Keith Woodwell

• ACTION: Approved as a committee bill, "Reporting Requirements for Science Center Authority."
• ACTION: Approved as a committee bill, "Athletic Commission Responsibilities."

Chairs: Sen. Steele/Rep. Frandsen Staff: Wayne Lewis/Jim Wilson

• Received an update on the growth, expansion and needs of the Utah Education Network.
• Received a package of proposals from the Utah School Board and the Utah School Superintendents Association to increase funding.
• Heard recommendations for the elementary reading program established through HB 312 in 1999.
• ACTION: Recommended that the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee fund training for 5000 teachers in grades K-3.
• ACTION: Expanded the state reading panel so that best practices in elementary reading programs are incorporated into district reading programs.
• Reviewed the Learning Standards and Accountability Task Force Report with accompanying proposed legislation.
• Considered two bills to amend the Charter School law. ACTION: Scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 30, 2000.

Chairs: Sen. Beverly Evans/Rep. Holladay Staff: John Cannon/John Fellows

• Discussed Title 39, Chapter 2, State Armory Board.
• Received a report on the reorganization of veteran-related programs.
• ACTION: Amended and passed as a committee bill, "Sunset Reauthorizations."
• ACTION: Chairs assigned committee members sponsorship of 17 committee bills.

Chairs: Sen. Montgomery/Rep. Saunders Staff: Mark Andrews/Janetha Hancock/Cathy Dupont

• ACTION: Adopted draft legislation appropriating $1.3 million to the Utah Area Health Education Centers.
• ACTION: Adopted two pieces of draft legislation proposed by the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel, "Clarification of Time Limits for Reunification Services" and "Child Welfare Oversight Panel Amendments."
• Received a briefing from the Addiction Research and Education Center.
• Heard a report from The HIP Board on actions it is taking to address affordability and other pertinent issues.
• Heard a report that a motion was filed on November 2, 2000 for dismissal of the Lisa P. settlement agreement.
• ACTION: Adopted as a committee bill, "Provision for Legal Relinquishment of a Newborn."
• Received a report from the Council on Sexual Victims and Offenders.
• Received the following nine annual reports: Drug Utilization Review Board; Abortion Informed Consent; Aids/HIV Anonymous Testing; Health Data Committee; FACT; Alternative Middle Schools; Disability Determination Services Advisory Council; Foster Care Citizens Review Board Steering Committee; and Guardian Ad Litem.

Chairs: Sen. Spencer/Rep. Tyler Staff: Jerry Howe/Esther Chelsea-McCarty

• Listened to an alternative view regarding recommendations of the Council on Sexual Victims and Offenders.
• ACTION: Adopted "Crime Victim Restitution Amendments" as a committee bill.
• Received a report from the Decriminalization of Traffic Offenses Task Force.
• Received written reports from: the State Board of Education regarding Alternative Middle Schools; the Legislative Oversight Panel; and the Foster Care Review Board.

Chairs: Sen. Waddoups/Rep. Hogue Staff: Chyleen Arbon/Susan Allred

• Received a report regarding the progress of Drug Courts and the Drug Board Pilot Project.
• Received a report on the Utah Crime Reduction Plan created by the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.
• Received recommendations from Draper City regarding changes to draft legislation that would create the Utah Correctional Industries Business Park.
• ACTION: Failed to pass a motion to adopt "Standards for Illegal Drug Lab Decontamination" as a committee bill.
• Received information about the new Positive Behavior Reward System being implemented by the Department of Corrections where inmates can earn privileges only by participating in job training, treatment, or education programs.
• Received a report on the recommendations of the Decriminalization of Traffic Offenses Task Force.
• Received a report on the recommendations of the Governor's Council on Driving Under the Influence.
  
  

Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment

Chairs: Sen. Nielson/Rep. Johnson Staff: Connie Steffen/Jeanenne Larson

• Received reports on: 1) Recycling Market Development Zones; 2) paper recycling; 3) the Rural Development Fund; and 4) the Rural Electronic Commerce Communications Fund.
• ACTION: Amended proposed legislation, "Certification and Training of Wastewater Disposal System Installers," and adopted it as a committee bill.
• Received testimony on new rules of the Drinking Water Board that require public water systems to protect surface water sources.

Chairs: Sen. Mont Evans/ Rep. Murray Staff: Joseph Wade/Robert H. Rees

• Considered draft legislation recodifying and standardizing provisions relating to annexation, withdrawal, and dissolution of certain independent special districts. ACTION: Adopted as a committee bill, "Special District and Local District Amendments."
• Considered draft legislation giving eminent domain powers to the Utah Transit Authority under certain circumstances.
• Heard the Utah Quality Growth Commission's report on its accomplishments and growth management issues.
• Considered draft legislation relating to the classification of municipalities.
• ACTION: Adopted as a committee bill, "Recodification of Redevelopment Agencies Statutes."

Chairs: Sen. Jones/Rep. Allen Staff: Richard North/Patricia Owen

• Considered seven pieces of recommended legislation from the Information Technology Commission. ACTION:Unanimously adopted all seven as committee bills.
• Received a report from the chairs of the Electrical Deregulation & Customer Choice Task Force that summarized the year's interim study topics with no major recommendations or recommended legislation.
• Reviewed the latest draft of a bill to modify provisions of HB 320. No decisions regarding the draft were made.

Chairs: Sen. Stephenson/Rep. Short Staff: Bryant Howe/Rebecca Rockwell

• Received reports from the State Olympic Officer on the projected economic benefits from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and on the Memorandum of Understanding between the state, local governments, and the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee regarding public safety services.
• ACTION: Adopted legislation that adds to federal taxable income certain interest income reported on Federal Form 8814.
• ACTION: Adopted legislation that provides indexing of the individual income tax brackets for inflation.
• ACTION: Adopted legislation providing for an exemption from the sales and use tax for certain purchases or leases of equipment by the mining industry.
• Reviewed issues relating to the taxation of the telecommunications industry.
• Reviewed issues surrounding the Resort Community Sales and Use Tax.

Chairs: Sen. Knudson/Rep. Dillree Staff: Ben Christensen/Dee Larsen

• Received the final report of the Decriminalization of Traffic Offenses Task Force.
• Received UDOT's annual recommended changes to the state highway system. ACTION: Adopted "Master Road Amendments" as a committee bill.
• Heard an update on I-15 reconstruction, the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, and highway finance.
• Heard an update on the Transportation Corridor Preservation Program and the accompanying revolving loan fund.
• Heard a presentation by UTA on granting powers of eminent domain to multi-county public transit districts.

Chairs: Sen. Muhlestein/Rep. Styler Staff: Art Hunsaker/Keith Woodwell

• Received an update from the Department of Workforce Services on changes to the Payment to Parents Program and the health and safety standards for child care providers who receive child care development funds.
• Reviewed draft legislation from the Department of Workforce Services amending unemployment insurance provisions. ACTION: Approved, in concept, the draft as a committee bill.
• Reviewed draft legislation from the Department of Workforce Services which repeals the Child Care Expendable Trust Fund and eliminates the Workforce Reentry Program since it duplicates existing services provided by the department. ACTION: Approved, in concept, the draft as a committee bill.