Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Interim committees meet monthly from 9 to noon and from 2 to 5 to get a head start on bills for the general session in January.

THIS MORNING all interim committees will begin with a few minutes of training on how to conduct public meetings.

The TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE (W025) will then consider Utah Public Transit issues, including reports from UTA and United Way of Salt Lake; congestion pricing to reduce traffic at peak hours, and mitigation of road construction area traffic — plus a report from the Governors' Homeland Security Advisors on implementing the REAL ID federal drivers license.

NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT (W020) will discuss renewing the Safe Drinking Water Act and Water Quality Act and will explore the effect of carbon management on developing Utah energy resources. State Energy Advisor Dianne Nielson will report to the committee, also.

WORKFORCE SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (C250) is studying ways to aid business development in disadvantaged rural communities. They are considering promoting economic development by increasing the Motion Picture Incentive Fund and by offering more tax credits to the manufacturing industry.

REVENUE AND TAXATION (C445) is comparing the property tax with other revenue sources to fund state and local government and public schools. Basing the property tax only on the value of land not structures, property tax rates, and taxes on lodging, restaurants and rental cars are also on the agenda.

OTHER MORNING COMMITTEES

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (C415 ) will discuss cost and options for updating Utah's emergency communications equipment, mandated by the FCC. They'll hear reports on the statewide information analysis center (SIAC) and Utah's Concealed Firearm Permit program, And consider making suffocation and strangulation aggravated assault offenses.

JUDICIARY (C450) will consider violation of protective order legislation and hear reports on treating mentally ill offenders and penalty distribution for selected crimes.

THIS AFTERNOON

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (W020) will discuss allowing counties to fund county health departments by raising property taxes.

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS (C450) is tackling compensation and incentives that might improve state employee productivity and efficiency. They will also hear a list of proposed election law changes from the Lt. Governor's office.

EDUCATION (C445) will hear reports from the Commission on Civic and Character Education in public schools and International Baccalaureate Program governance. The Legislative Auditor will report on the use of class size reduction funds.

OTHER AFTERNOON COMMITTEES

BUSINESS AND LABOR (W025) will study whether the Utah Antidiscrimination Act should be modified to include additional classes. The Act currently covers the classes of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age (over 40), and religion, but not sexual orientation. The possibility of enabling parents to request freezing a child's credit records will be discussed also.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (W020) will discuss allowing counties to fund county health departments by raising property taxes. Issues related to county surveyors and assessment areas are also on the agenda.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (C250) will consider the operation and funding of the State Medical Examiner's Office, and strategies for funding services for persons with a disability. The committee will hear a report on autism also, including identification of existing services and a proposal to require health insurance to cover autism.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY (C415) will look at utility service to mobile home park residents, including responsibility for maintenance and costs, and at locating underground sewage facilities.

TOMORROW

The EDUCATION COMMITTEE meets again from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in C445 to discuss basing teacher salaries on teacher performance. The IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE meets at 1 p.m. in Capitol Room 450 with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman to discuss federal and state immigration laws, and the HEALTH REFORM TASK FORCE meets at 8 a.m. in W020 to consider health care spending and transparency.

Contact your legislator and listen to interim committees at le.utah.gov.

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters