Friday, February 15, 2008

MORNING COMMITTEES

A bill requiring Utah utilities to generate 25% of Utah's energy from renewable sources by the year 2025 is before the SENATE WORKFORCE SERVICES COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. SB173 is designed to clean up Utah's air pollution by mandating the use of clean, renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. The bill sets interim targets (for example 5% renewables by 2012) to encourage early and steady progress towards clean energy. Currently 95% of Utah electricity is generated from greenhouse-gas-producing fossil fuels.

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS will consider HB238. It provides that when candidates file to run for public office, they must be given a copy of current campaign finance disclosure laws to be sure they are aware that their names will be taken off the ballot if they fail to properly disclose on time. The candidates must sign an affidavit promising to comply. HB262 directs the Office of Legislative Research to figure out how the state can get reimbursement from the federal government for costs resulting from illegal immigration. The list of costs includes education, medical assistance, health care, foster care, criminal justice and incarceration costs.

AFTERNOON

HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE will consider HB140, requires the driver of a vehicle to protect a child 8 years old or younger by using an appropriate child restraint device. However, if a child is younger than 8 but is 57 inches tall or taller, a regular seat belt could still be used. The law currently requires a child restraint only up to the age of 5.

SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES will hear SB133. It proposes a medical home program to serve Medicaid and CHIP recipients at risk for incurring high medical costs. The pilot program would focus on reducing those costs through managed care, primary care, and training to improve self-management skills of patients with chronic medical conditions. Health care providers would receive incentives to discourage inappropriate use of expensive specialty care and emergency room services and to provide services outside of regular business hours or on weekends.

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

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

HJR10 passed the HOUSE yesterday. The vote was 58-11. It's a resolution that urges Congress and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management not to designate new Utah wilderness areas called for by a bill currently before Congress, H.R. 1919, the "Hinchey Bill," without the unanimous support of Utah's Congressional delegation. The delegation does oppose it. Currently Utah has 1 million acres of wilderness.

The dispute has gone on for many years. Residents of southern Utah resent losing a chance to develop oil, gas and coal resources, especially when the decision is being made in Washington, D.C. The other side of the economic argument is that southern Utah's resources bring many tourist dollars to the economy. It would be interesting to see some figures on that.

About two-thirds of Utah land is owned by the feds. So the resources in question really belong to all Americans. That's a matter of pride for some Utahns. For others it's quite galling-as yesterday's vote on the House floor confirmed.

One of the two animal cruelty bills before the legislature this year, SB117 sponsored by Senator Christensen, passed the SENATE yesterday but by only one vote. Critics of SB117 wanted Senator Davis' SB102, "Henry's Law" instead because it made animal torture a felony on the first offense. SB117 makes it a felony only on the second offense if it occurs within five years. Senate President John Valentine cast the tie-breaker, noting that an exception for cruelty to livestock was no longer in the bill because he had insisted it be removed in committee.

In committee action yesterday HOUSE REVENUE AND TAXATION passed HB360, an income tax credit for 5% of the cost of long term care insurance premiums. The vote was unanimous. The committee also gave unanimous approval to SB135, which makes permanent a sales tax exemption for facilities that reduce air or water pollution

SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE approved HB23, which makes intentional child abandonment a felony. Child abandonment means intentionally failing to provide a child with food, shelter or clothing, or failing to make arrangements for the child's safety, care and physical custody.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters