Week Five of the Utah Legislative General Session

This week at the Capitol we received the state’s latest revenue projections and are now working to finalize the state budget. We’ve already passed a base budget as a guide, but we now we can confidently appropriate new ongoing and one-time revenue. Overall, new estimates show that one-time revenue is up $11 million and ongoing revenue is up $47 million, with most of that increase in the education fund. In total, the state has $144 million in new one-time revenue and $253 million in ongoing revenue.

It’s important to recognize the difference between the two types of revenue. We can expect the source of ongoing revenue to remain about the same year to year, but one-time revenue can only be used once. Except in cases of emergency, the state of Utah does its best to avoid paying for ongoing costs with one-time revenue.

Utah continues to be well positioned for what lies ahead. Our consumer confidence levels are well above national averages, and our unemployment rate, at 4.1 percent, is well below the national average.

Every year, legislators are tasked with balancing the budget. This means making hard choices when it comes to what the state should and should not fund. This session the House has made funding public education, air quality initiatives, and providing for Utah’s most needy top priority. It’s in imperative that our school children are given innovative ways to learn, that Utahans can feel safe about the air they breathe, and that those that need help, are given help.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you regarding your concerns and expectations.

Representative Dunnigan and Representative Dee discussing a bill.

HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION

HB 74- Energy Efficient Vehicle Tax Credit (Rep Snow)

This bill modifies the amount of tax credit that may be claimed for the purchase of certain energy efficient vehicles; and makes technical and conforming changes.

HB 31- Pollution Control Amendments (Rep Wilcox)

This bill repeals provisions related to pollution control. It enacts the Pollution Control chapters, including; defining terms; sales and tax exemptions; claiming refund of sales and use taxes paid; certification process for purposes of sales and use tax exemptions; revocation of certification and rulemaking authority by the Air Quality Board of Water Quality Board.

HB 127 – Consumer Lending Amendments (Rep Dunnigan)

            This bill provides a way for consumers to get out of the cycle of debt by giving them 60 days interest free to pay off a payday loan that has been in place for 10 weeks.

H.B. 217 – Service Animals (Rep Wilcox)

            This bill allows service animals to be adopted when they retire.

 HB302 S1- Substitute Voting Record Amendments (Rep Edwards)

The bill allows a voter to request the voter’s voter registration record be classified as a private record.

HB 341- Federal Land Acquisitions Amendments (Rep Noel)

This bill amends provisions relating to the legislative’s approval of conveyances of school trust lands.

HB 336 S1- Substitute Court System Task Force (Rep Jeremy Peterson)

This bill creates the court system Task Force. It requires that the Task Force provide the Judiciary Interim Committee with a report of the task force’s recommendations by November 30, 2015.

SB125- Retired Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Amendment (Sen Henderson)

This bill amends the eligibility requirements for an individual to apply for a retired volunteer health care practitioner license.

SB132- Humans Service Amendments (Sen Harper)

This bill provides that the district court may appoint an office attorney guardian ad litem when the district court determines that no private attorney guardians ad litem are reasonably available. Any savings shall be applied to the office to reduce caseloads and improve practice in Juvenile court and to recruit and train attorneys for the private attorney guardian ad litem program.

SB 103 S1 – Local Control of Classroom Time Requirements (Sen. Osmond)

            This bill allows a local school board or charter school governing board to reduce the number of instructional hours or days within the school term for certain purposes.

SB 130 – Trust Deed Foreclosure Amendments (Sen. Harper)

            This bill amends the requirements related to trust deed foreclosures, including communications with a default trustor.

SB 138 – Controlled Substances Act Amendments (Sen. Vickers)

            This bill provides that more than one controlled substance may be included in a prescription.

SB 155 – Apportionment of Income Amendments (Sen. Bramble)

            This bill amends a definition related to the apportionment of income for purposes of corporate franchise and income taxes

SB 168 – Charity Care Amendments (Sen Christensen)

This bill requires a written waiver from a patient; and provides immunity from liability to a health care provider who volunteers services at a federally qualified health center or an Indian health clinic.

Representative Dunnigan on the Dais running the House floor as Speaker Pro Tem. 

Week Four of the Utah Legislative General Session

We are officially halfway through the 2014 General Legislative Session, and things are progressing up here on the hill. Every day more and more bills receive committee hearings, debate on the House floor, and are passed over to the Senate. This year alone there have been 1,216 requests for legislation. Of those, 595 bills have been numbered, 314 have been dropped, and 257 are still being drafted. Utah’s legislative process is unique and this session we’re enjoying the opportunity to be part of the policy-making process.

This week we heard from Senator Mike Lee, Congressman Jim Matheson, and Congressman Rob Bishop and got their Washington D.C. perspectives.  

            Come join Representative Jim Dunnigan on the House floor. The times available for next week are listed below.

Monday, February 24, 2014

            10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

            10:00 am – 12:00 pm     &      2:00 pm – 3:50 pm

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

            10:00 am – 12:00 pm,     &     2:00 pm – 3:50 pm

Thursday, February 27, 2014

            10:00 am – 12:00 pm,     &     2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Friday, February 28, 2014

            10:00 am – 12:00 pm,     &     3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

The Fire Caucus, made up from firefighters and fire marshals throughout the state, presented an award.  This year Representative Dunnigan received the Legislator of the Year Award at the Fire Caucus. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb. 25 – Museum Day on the Hill - Join us as we learn about the wonderful museums located in Utah

Feb. 27 – Non-Profit Day on the Hill

Join us for a day of non-profit education in the Capitol Rotunda.

Representative Dunnigan and his grandson Nixon on the House Floor.

Bills That Passed The House

HB 80 – Speed Limit Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)

            This bill allows the Department of Transportation to establish posted speed limits on freeways or other limited access highways that exceeds the current speed limit based on highway traffic engineering and safety study.

HB 88 – Autism Program Amendments (Menlove, R.)

            This bill requires that ongoing programs for the treatment of qualified children with autism spectrum disorder to be established by the Department of Health and the Public Employee Insurance and Benefit Program.

HB 215 S1 – Public School Employee Background Checks (Handy, S.)

            This bill requires a notification to be provide to certain entities when a new entry is made against an employee or volunteer whose fingerprints are held on file regarding any matters involving an alleged offense against property.

HB 248 S1 – Crime Victims Restitution Amendments (McKell, M.)

             This bill allows for a person who claims pecuniary damages as a result of a defendant's criminal activities to seek restitution individually through a representative.

HB 301 – Concealed Weapon Permit for Servicemembers (Peterson, V.)

            This bill exempts an active duty service member from the Utah concealed firearm permit reciprocity requirement if stationed out of state.

SB 145 – Background Check Amendments (Bramble, C.)

            This bill clarifies that criminal history record information that does not relate to a conviction may not be released to an entity requesting an employment background check.

SB 108 – Judiciary Amendments (Hillyard, L.)

   This bill requires a peace officer or public official to include on a citation whether the offense was a domestic violence offense; requires a petitioner applying electronically for the expungement of records to follow certain proceedings; changes the filing fee for a domestic relations order.

Honoring former Lt. Greg Bell and his wife, JoLynn Bell on the House floor.

Week Three of the Utah Legislative General Session

We’re wrapping up week three of the 2014 legislative session here on the hill. This week we continued to meet in appropriations and standing committees, as well as debate House and Senate bills on the House floor. We spent time discussing the Utah School Readiness Initiative (HB 96), election laws (HB282), and a variety of other bills, including HB 283, a bill that enacts the Nonprofit Entity Receipt of State Money Act.

The caucus also discussed he Public Education Modernization Act, which is an education initiative designed to enact a statewide one-to-one mobile device technology program for grades 1 through 12. Which means that every student in Utah will have access to his or her own tablet or laptop. The Public Education Modernization Act invests in students, but it also invests in teachers. Teachers will receive extensive professional development that will give them all of the knowledge and training they will need to utilize software, personalize curriculum, and assess student understanding. We’re excited to give new opportunities to Utah students, as well as improve drop out rates, graduation, academic achievement, and reduce discipline issues. Not to mention, the chance to invest in our teachers.

Be sure to contact us with any questions comments, or concerns. Your feedback and participation is always welcome.

Bill of the Week

H.B. 275 – Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day 

This week the Utah House passed a bill that designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.  

Representative Oda sponsored the bill in an effort to honor those that served in the Vietnam War by creating a day in which all Utahans could show their gratitude for the Veterans’ sacrifice. 

Bills that passed the House

H.B. 316 – Financial Institutions Fee Amendments (Dunnigan, J.)

            This bill reduces certain fees imposed by statute, addresses use of money by the commissioner, and makes technical changes.

H.B. 261 S2 – Domestic Horse Disposal (Anderegg, J.)

            This bill allows the owner of certain dead animals to bury the dead animals on the owner’s property.

H.B. 96 – Utah School Readiness Initiative (Hughes, G.)

            This bill creates the School Readiness Board to negotiate contracts with private entities to fund certain early childhood education programs and award grants to certain early childhood education programs.

H.B. 289 – Traffic-control Signal Amendments (Anderson, J.)

            This bill repeals the sunset date on the affirmative defense for an operator of a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle who is 16 years of age or older, to a red light or red arrow violation in certain circumstances.

H.B. 292 – School Grading – Calculation of High School Graduation Rate (Menlove, R.)

            This bill modifies the calculation of a high school graduation rate for the purpose of school grading by excluding from the four-year adjusted cohort for the graduating class a student with a disability who has an IEP that includes a plan to complete high school graduation requirements in more than four years. 

Lincoln's Birthday

February 12, this passed Wednesday, marked President Lincoln's Birthday. We had three Lincoln's come and visit the House; one of which was Representative Dunnigan!

Week Two of the Utah Legislative General Session

The start of our second week here on Utah’s Capitol Hill was met with hard work as our appropriations subcommittees continued to meet diligently and discuss the budget. These subcommittees reviewed state departments, audits, and spending, and then brought forward a base budget. The base budget is presented in bill form and is essentially a guideline for spending for the year. The legislature continues to keep Utah fiscally responsible by balancing the budget every year.

This session, the legislature will introduce a solution that has been years in the making. By consolidating the 9-1-1-system across the state of Utah, we hope to ensure every Utahn will receive the best possible emergency response. Reforming the dispatch system will eliminate confusion, save money, shrink emergency response times and save lives.

Later in the week the Utah House of Representatives had the privilege of honoring fallen Sgt. Derek Johnson and his family with a citation on the House floor. As legislators, and as Utahns, we are grateful for the sacrifices law enforcement members and their families make every day.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you regarding any questions, comments, or concerns.

Honoring fallen Sgt. Derek Johnson and his family with a citation on the House floor.

Thank You!

Thanks to all who came to the Town Hall Meeting and shared their ideas and concerns.
Your input is very valuable in helping me represent our district at the State capitol.
Remember to return your surveys!

Bill of the Week

HB 245  - State Fire Code Amendments (Rep. J. Dunnigan)

This bill modifies the fire code to allow housing structures to be built in girls camps in the mountains without requiring a sprinkling system provided the housing is constructed of non-flammable materials and does not include heating or cooking equipment.

Legislation that Passed the House

HB 30  - Controlled Substances Amendments (Rep. P. Ray)

This bill adds new “spice” and emerging drug analogs to the listed controlled substances. 

HB 20 - Emergency Vehicle Operator Duty of Care Revisions (Rep. B. Dee)

This bill makes it so that the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle owes nothing to a suspect of a crime when the suspect is evading, fleeing or attempting to elude the operator of the authorized emergency vehicle. 

HB 24 S1 - Insurance Related Amendments (Rep. J. Dunnigan)

This bill increases health insurance benefits on individual or small employer insurance plans for mental health and substance abuse. Secondly allows out of state insurance providers to work in Utah following natural disasters to help get claims paid more timely. And other regulatory clean up. 

HB 25  - Eminent Domain Amendments (Rep. L. Perry)

This bill requires that when the right of eminent domain is being exercised a written statement with certain disclosures has to be given to the property owner. It also amend what uses eminent domain main be used for. 

HB 241 - School Records Amendments (Rep. G. Froerer)

This bill says that a school must record and maintains to verify that a parent was notified of certain incidents or threats. 

SB 25  - Candidate Certification Amendments (Sen. D. Henderson) 

This bill provides that the deadline for a registered political party to certify its candidates for a primary election is 5 p.m. on April 28, 2014; provides that the deadline for the lieutenant governor to certify to the county clerks the candidates who will appear on the primary ballot is 5 p.m. on April 29, 2014; and provides that the provisions of this bill are repealed on January 1, 2015.

HB 238  - Local Referendum Requirements Amendments (Rep. K. Powell)

This bill provides that when a local legislative body imposes a tax or other payment obligation on property in an area that doesn’t include all areas in the jurisdiction of the legislative body that only those in which the tax or payment will apply give signatures and vote on the referendum.