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MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

Room W010 - State Capitol Complex

January 19, 2007


MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Douglas Aagard, Chair
        Rep. Lorie Fowlke, Vice Chair
        Rep. Sheryl Allen
        Rep. Jim Bird
        Rep. Jackie Biskupski
        Rep. Kevin Garn
        Rep. Eric Hutchings
        Rep. Chris Johnson
        Rep. Kay McIff
        Rep. Mark Wheatley
        Rep. Scott L. Wyatt

MEMBERS ABSENT:    Rep. Keith Grover
        Rep. Roz McGee        
        
STAFF PRESENT:    Jerry D. Howe, Policy Analyst
        Sylvia Newton, Committee Secretary
    

NOTE:    A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.             


Representative Fowlke called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Allen moved to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2007 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.


H.B. 228    Penalty for Homicide of a Child (Rep. C. Wimmer)

This bill was not heard in this meeting.


H.B. 83    Forgery Amendments (Rep. D. Aagard)

Rep. Aagard introduced H.B. 83 and explained it to the committee, assisted by Wade Farraway, Attorney General's Office.

MOTION:    Rep. Biskupski moved to pass H.B. 83 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings absent for the vote.



H.B. 85    Sentence Reduction Clarification (Rep. S. Wyatt)

Rep. Wyatt introduced H.B. 85 and explained it to the committee, assisted by Chad Platt, Statewide Association of Prosecutors.

MOTION:    Rep. Wyatt moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 34 :    

             34          (1) If
  at the time of sentencing       the court, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the offense of which


2.    Page 2, Line 36 :    

             36      having given any victims
  present at the sentencing       and the prosecuting attorney an opportunity to be heard, concludes it


3.    Page 2, Line 51 :    

             51          (2) If the court
{   stays the imposition   }        suspends the execution       of        the       sentence and places the defendant on probation,


4.    Page 2, Lines 55 through 56 :    

             55          (b) upon motion
{   by the defendant   }        and notice to the prosecuting attorney       ;

             56          (c) after
{   notice   }        reasonable effort       has been        made by the prosecuting attorney            {   provided   }        to provide notice       to any victims      {   and the prosecuting attorney   } ;


5.    Page 3, Line 60 :    

             60          (3) (a) An offense may be reduced only
{   [   } one degree      {   ]   }      {   once   } under this section, whether


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts
            Stewart Ralphs, Utah Domestic Violence Counsel

MOTION:    Rep. McIff moved to pass H.B. 85 as amended out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.


H.B. 92    Adoption of an Adult Provisions (Rep. J. Mathis)

Rep. Mathis introduced H.B. 92 and explained it to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:    Stewart Ralphs, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake

MOTION:    Rep. Johnson moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 47:    After Subsection (3) insert (a).

The motion to amend the bill passed with Rep. Garn, Rep. Hutchings, Rep. McIff, Rep. Fowlke, and Rep. Aagard voting in opposition to the motion.

MOTION:    Rep. Aagard moved to proceed to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 32    Expedited Parent-time Enforcement (Rep. Julie Fisher)

Rep. Fisher introduced H.B. 32 and explained it to the committee, assisted by Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts.

MOTION:    Rep. Wyatt moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 42 through 46 :    

             42          (3) (a) [Under this pilot program, if] If a parent files a motion in the [third] district
             43      court alleging that court-ordered parent-time rights are being violated, the clerk of the court,
             44      after assigning the case to a judge, shall refer the case to the administrator of this [pilot]
             45      program for assignment to a mediator, unless a parent is incarcerated or otherwise unavailable.
  The director of the program for the courts, the court, or the mediator may excuse either party from the requirement to mediate for good cause.      

             46      Unless the court rules otherwise, a parent residing outside of the state is not unavailable.

The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Biskupski absent for the vote.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Stewart Ralphs, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
            Pamela Atkinson, community advocate
            Conrad Lloyd, citizen

MOTION:    Rep. Wyatt moved to pass H.B. 32 as amended out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.





MOTION:    Rep. Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously

Rep. Fowlke adjourned the meeting at 3:17 p.m.





                ___________________________________
                    Rep. Douglas Aagard, Chair