Monday, March 3, 2008

THIS MORNING

With only three days to go, legislators will debate on the floor from 9 a.m. to as late as needed tonight.

On the HOUSE CONCURRENCE calendar is Substitute HB330 Supplemental Funding for Head Start (by Shurtliff). The House approved $700,000 to cover 100 more Head Start families. But the Senate cut the amount to $100,000, and the House must decide whether to concur. Since the expected amount of surplus revenue available was reduced a couple of weeks ago, several such adjustments are being made.

On the TIME CERTAIN list in the HOUSE is HB473 - Firearms Amendments (by Oda), to be debated at 11:30. It defines "concealed weapon permit" to allow - but not require - the weapon to be concealed. The bill puts no limits on where a gun could be openly carried, and opponents argue that some places, such as schools, would not be appropriate.

On the HOUSE list of SENATE bills are SB239 (by Bramble) and Substitute SB81 - Illegal Immigration (by Hickman). Under SB239 the Attorney General would help victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and other maltreatment in culturally isolated communities in southern Utah and northern Arizona, likely referring to polygamist communities in that area. Substitute SB81 is the large immigration bill amended to take effect July 1, 2009 before being passed by the Senate.

In the SENATE

Fifth Substitute SB48 (by Eastman) is on the SENATE CONCURRENCE list. The Senate had appropriated $28.7 million to equalize funds for school construction costs across the state. But the House cut the state's contribution to $15 million to be divided among school districts. Some property tax revenue from Salt Lake, Murray, Granite and Jordan-east districts in Salt Lake County will still go to the new Jordan-west district. Senators must vote again on this new version.

Substitute SB299 is circled on SENATE SECOND Reading. It authorizes counties and municipalities to pass ordinances that make employee benefits available to employees, to their dependents and to a financially dependent or interdependent adult designated by an unmarried employee. The bill was amended Friday to make hospital visitation rights available.

SB169 - Renewable Energy Zone Task Force, SB203 - Highway Abandonment Amendments, and Substitute SB210 Proof of Citizenship Required to Vote are also on the board.

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

WHAT HAPPENED FRIDAY

Second Substitute HB146 SCHOOL BUS AMENDMENTS, passed the House Friday afternoon, 55-11.

It provides $100,000 from the Uniform School Fund to the State Board of Education for a clean school bus purchase or retrofit program. The original fiscal note of $817,600 would have been enough to retrofit the entire school bus fleet along the Wasatch Front and in Cache Co. [our most polluted PM 2.5 non-attainment areas]. Funds will match grants to local school districts from the federal government or private sources. Each retrofit costs $2,100, including positive crankcase ventilation (to keep emissions out of the bus interior) and diesel particulate filter (to prevent highly toxic diesel tailpipe emissions).

The State Board of Education, in consultation with school districts and the Air Quality Board, will adopt idling reduction standards such as time limits on idling, and restrictions on where idling can take place

The no votes were Frank, Hansen, Morley, Sumsion, Gibson, Hendrickson, Noel, Wimmer, Grover, Mathis and Sandstrom

Also on Friday, SB210, requiring proof of citizenship to register, was substituted to be somewhat less onerous. It has not yet been debated. Under the substitute, voters wouldn't have to attach an actual copy of a driver license, birth certificate, passport or naturalization form to a registration form (although they can). This would make door-to-door and event registration possible without "having to carry a copy machine on your hip" as Senator McCoy says or handing over copies of your driver license or birth certificate that could invite identity theft. Instead the document could be presented at the time of voting and a provisional ballot would be available. These options provide some time to find a document before the election, But they won't help those who just can't get one- either because it doesn't exist, can't be found or isn't affordable. The cost of documentation could also be considered a poll tax,
which is unconstitutional. The vulnerable groups are seniors, African Americans, the disabled and low income. After May 5 all new voters in Utah would have to provide a citizenship document, including anyone from out of state, and even native Utahns who have just turned 18 or decided they'd like to vote although they haven't voted before. Opponents say these restrictions are unnecessary. Photo ID, proof of address, driver license and naturalization numbers, the last four Social Security digits, and a citizenship affidavit are already required for new voters. There have been no instances of non-citizens voting in Utah.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters