Tuesday, March 4, 2008

THIS MORNING

Floor debate began at 8 a.m. this morning. The House and Senate have large appropriation bills at the top of their agendas to debate and amend if necessary to make final budget decisions.

HB2 - New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations is in the House. It supplements or reduces various appropriations for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, for the whole gamut of government agencies from the governor's office to the department of natural resources. SB3 - Current Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations is in the Senate. It similarly adjusts appropriations to match the revenues now projected for the current fiscal year, ending on June 30th.

The HOUSE needs to concur with a change the Senate made to HB171 (by Daw), which limits the use of a driving privilege for identification. The Senate amendment prevents drivers who apply for the card from getting a receipt that serves as a temporary license while the application is being processed. Instead the applicant would get a drivers learning permit.

Also on the HOUSE board, HB414 (by Cosgrove) would allow state agencies, school districts and charter schools in first and second class counties to contract for collection and recycling of paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans. HB435 enacts rules for public hearings on tax increases. The county auditor would have to publish expected effects of the increase two weeks before the public hearing.

The SENATE will decide whether or not to concur with HOUSE amendments to Substitute SB72 -Justice Court Amendments (by Hillyard). As part of an effort to make justices of the peace more independent and professional, the Senate bill required them to have a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. The House changed the requirement to graduation from high school.

Also on the SENATE board, 5th Substitute HB164 gives residents and county governments more say in the incorporation of new towns. It allows the county to commission a financial feasibility study, and limits the amount of property that petition sponsors can own. The SENATE may also vote on Substitute HB325 - school bullying and hazing policy and Substitute HB133 - the comprehensive Health System Reform task force bill.

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

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Substitute SB84 Net Metering Programs (by VanTassell) passed the HOUSE unanimously yesterday. Net metering is when you have (for instance) a solar panel on your roof. If you connect to the grid and put electricity in when you make more than you need, and take electricity out when you need more, you are "net metering". This increases the value of electricity produced by consumers, by allowing them to deposit excess energy and use it later.

Power companies also benefit when consumers produce excess energy during peak energy-use periods, improving the system's load capacity. Utah consumers generate more solar energy during the summer, just when energy demand for air conditioners and swamp coolers is high. Everyone else on the system benefits because the power company doesn't need to buy expensive peak power on the spot market or build expensive peak power generating facilities. Air quality is improved, too, by running peaking power generators less.

Substitute SB81 - Illegal Immigration (by Hickman) passed the HOUSE 56-15-4. It was amended to clarify that transporting undocumented workers for commercial gain applied only to traffickers carrying them into the state or for 100 miles within the state, not to employers picking them up for work or moving them from field to field. An amendment failed to repeal the Senate effective date of July 1, 2009 so that the bill could take effect this year. So the Task Force in SB97 will have a year to work.

HB473 (by Oda) also passed the HOUSE 60-11. It defines a concealed firearm permit, to allow - but not require - a gun to be concealed. However, the House approved an exception, that the gun must be concealed if carried on or about school premises.

Substitute SB299 (by Bell) passed the SENATE. It authorizes counties and municipalities to make employee benefits available to employees, to their dependents and to a financially dependent or interdependent adult designated by an unmarried employee. A registry of these financially dependent or interdependent adults could be created, but couldn't give legal status to domestic partnerships, civil unions or any cohabitation relationships other than marriage. An amendment to specifically allow hospital visitation was not adopted. But in recognition of the great concern the issue is to same-sex couples, intent language was added, saying that the law does not disturb any hospital visitation rights.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters