Tuesday, February 19, 2008

MORNING COMMITTEES

THIS MORNING Substitute HB326 is before the SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. It keeps CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, open so that any eligible child can enroll. In the past, enrollment has been closed due to lack of funds. The cost in 2010 is projected to be $2.8 million from Utah's General Fund plus $11.4 million from the federal government. To be eligible for CHIP, a child must be a Utah resident, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, under 19, lack health insurance, not be eligible for Medicaid, and live in a household whose gross family income is 200% of the federal poverty level.

HJR7 will be heard in SENATE BUSINESS AND LABOR. The resolution urges the Utah Seismic Safety Commission to compile an inventory of unreinforced masonry buildings, which are among the most dangerous structures in a strong earthquake. More than 80% of Utah's population lives in areas subject to large earthquakes. SB222 would prohibit individuals unlawfully in the U.S. from being licensed real estate or mortgage brokers. The Division of Licensing would verify the applicant's legal status and the applicant would pay for the cost of verification.

ON THE SENATE FLOOR

At 11:15 the Senate debates SB81 (Illegal Immigration). Among its many provisions are limits on employment and services for persons not lawfully in the U.S. Public employers and contractors would have to use the federal system to verify work eligibility, and a special unit would be set up in the Attorney General's office to investigate the sale or distribution of fraudulent identity documents. Transporting, concealing or harboring illegal aliens would be a misdemeanor. Several provisions allow local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. SB81 is based on an Oklahoma law. Recent reports from that state and Arizona indicate that new laws have led to labor shortages and decreased sales tax revenue, which has led Utah business interests to favor a task force to study the issues.

THIS AFTERNOON

Executive Appropriations meets at 4 p.m. to approve new revenue estimates and spending limits. Budgets may need to be adjusted to fit the new estimates.

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

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Substitute HB106 Clean Air and Efficient Vehicle Tax Incentives, sponsored by Roz McGee, passed unanimously out of the SENATE REVENUE & TAXATION COMMITTEE after a brisk question & answer session. Some questions asked by the committee were:

--How will the fuel tax on natural gas be collected? (answer: at the pump).
--What keeps 2 different owners from getting a tax credit on the same vehicle (maybe language needs tightening).
--How many places are there where NG cars can be fueled? (about 20).
--How can you get a clean fuels plate to use the HOV lane ?(buy it if your vehicle is qualified).
--Why aren't electric hybrids listed? (EPA has a listing similar to Energy Star that ranks the energy & emission performance of various models - elite hybrids qualify).

Representative McGee thanked the large numbers of supporters and stakeholders for help in the development of this improved bill. She named Moms for Clean air and the League of Women Voters as groups that support this bill.

Yesterday the HOUSE BUSINESS AND LABOR COMMITTEE discussed HB298 but did not act on it. The bill sponsored by Rep. Wayne Harper would require the Utah Transit Authority to charge no fare on red air quality days and half fare on yellow air quality days. The purpose is to attract more transit riders and improve air quality. Rep. Harper said the estimated cost to UTA had been lowered from 3.9 million to $1.4 million when taking into consideration increased ridership vs. the loss of revenue for whatever reason. He estimates there will be 51 bad air days a year. He reported that 15 other districts in the US had implemented this kind of action.

SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS approved SB210 yesterday, which requires persons registering to vote to provide evidence that they're U.S. citizens. Voters who are already registered would not need to provide proof of citizenship unless they're changing their registration from another state to Utah. Sponsor Senator Madsen said that voting by non-citizens had been a problem in other states, although not in Utah. So the reason for the bill is unclear. ACLU attorney Marina Baginsky Lowe said that Utah and US laws already protect against non-citizens voting. New restrictions will discourage exercising the right to vote, especially for those born at home or outside the USA, and the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates can be considered a poll tax.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters