Tuesday, February 12, 2008

MORNING COMMITTEES

Taxpayer relief is on the minds of the HOUSE REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE this morning. HB158 offers veterans, or veterans' estates or trusts, a 5 percent income tax credit for military retired pay. This would divert $6 million from the Uniform School Fund. HB180 asks legislators to study putting a taxpayer advocate in the State Tax Commission as some other states do. HB304 reduces the sales tax rate on food to 1.0%. Right now it's 1.75%. The cut would cost $31 million dollars. HB155 raises from one acre to 5 acres the limit on residential lot size that qualifies for a property tax exemption, if local zoning requires larger lots.

SB72, Justice Court Amendments, is in SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. It increases the accountability of justice court judges through performance evaluations, a retention process and appointment by a judicial selection committee. To avoid conflicts of interest, judges could not work for government law enforcement or justice agencies, serve as elected officials, hold any office in a political party or organization, or own or work for a business that regularly litigates in small claims court.

SB283, in TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY today, would favor highway projects that are critical alternative routes during priority I-15 reconstruction, such as that planned for Utah County. The Transportation Commission would give these projects priority consideration, and the $1 billion dollar spending cap would apply only to bond proceeds, allowing more tax money to be spent. HB103 encourages the use of alternatives to gasoline by allowing private individuals and companies to buy compressed natural gas through the state's fuel network. Owners of compressed natural gas vehicles have had trouble finding fuel in the private sector.

In SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, SB85 creates a Water Rights Board to make policy for the State Engineer and Division of Water Rights. Board members, appointed by the Governor with consent of the Senate, would represent broad interests, including agriculture and livestock, municipalities, counties, industry, hydroelectric or geothermal energy; fish, wildlife or recreation, and instream flow. At least one member would be an attorney knowledgeable about water law.

THIS AFTERNOON AT 5:15 in C445, PUBLIC EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS will discuss budget issues, including the Weighted Pupil Unit increase, educator and agency compensation.

For more information, visit your legislature — in person or online at www.le.utah.gov

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Early yesterday morning, restrictions on driving privilege cards, which are issued in place of drivers' licenses to drivers who lack Social Security numbers, passed the HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE unanimously. HB171 would restrict using the card as proof of age to buy guns, alcoholic beverages, raw materials for illegal drugs, or in fact for any government purpose. It also requires Motor Vehicles and Driver License Divisions to work together to suspend the driving privilege for cardholders who don't have car insurance. Two main arguments for the card are that holders must pass driving tests and buy automobile insurance. A legislative audit found that 76 percent of cardholders are indeed insured.

A few hours later the full HOUSE trumped the committee by passing HB239, which repeals the cards altogether as of December this year. The vote of 39 to 35 was very close. It takes 38 yes votes, a majority of the 75 members, to pass a bill in the HOUSE. A bill may be recalled for reconsideration when the margin is so small, but that must be done within 24 hours. As HB239 has been debated, driving privilege cards have been blamed for a long list of ills: terrorism, criminal activity, money laundering, identity theft, gang membership, sex offenses, and Utah's being flooded by illegal aliens. We'll see what the Senate thinks.

Another contentious bill, Substitute SB267, passed SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SB267 prohibits cities and counties from setting up registries that recognize a domestic partnership, civil union or any other domestic relationship other than marriage. The bill is aimed at a Salt Lake City registry established to help employers determine which members of a household are eligible for health insurance coverage. SB267 aims to discourage same-sex households, but the Salt Lake ordinance covers any household members who cohabit and rely on one another as dependents. The city says that 78 percent of registered city employees are not in same-sex households. Senator Buttars, sponsor of the bill was persuaded somewhat by the need for health insurance and health care visitation. He offered a substitute, which allows cities to make health insurance available to a public employee plus an additional named insured, including a financially dependent adult. However, this appears to cover only spouses and family associations involving blood relatives, such as elderly parents.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters