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House passes abortion resolution directing study, task force and friend‑of‑the‑court brief after long debate
Summary
The House passed HJR 39 after extended debate over language on when life begins, whether abortion is used as birth control, and whether to fund a task force; the resolution directs legislative research and a 14‑member task force to report by Dec. 1, 1990.
The Utah House on Feb. 16 adopted House Joint Resolution 39 after hours of floor debate over several amendments that reshaped the resolution’s 'whereas' language and scope. The resolution directs the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in consultation with the Legislative Management Committee, to file a friend‑of‑the‑court brief and establishes a 14‑member task force (5 senators and 9 representatives) to receive public input and report by Dec. 1, 1990. The resolution passed the House 56–0 as amended.
Floor debate focused on several contested points: an original clause stating the Legislature 'decides when human life begins' prompted amendments to avoid a doctrinal assertion; members argued about wording that described abortion as an 'increasingly used form of birth control' and whether family planning programs have 'been unsuccessful' in reducing unwanted pregnancies. Representative Olsen (sponsor) offered and accepted substitute language to change phrases that members found objectionable; Representative White and others proposed deleting or replacing inflammatory language. Atkinson and supporters argued for compromise language that would allow broader support, while opponents pressed for more explicit statements about life and legislative intent.
Several lawmakers urged caution about costly new studies; Representative White moved to delete a task force study but the motion failed. Others said a study had strategic value if the state expects to litigate or influence federal court review, citing legal strategy used by other states. The Senate‑House task force was given a Dec. 1, 1990 deadline in the resolution text.
The resolution’s passage sets a formal legislative study and outreach process on abortion policy and authorizes legislative legal staff to take part in court proceedings via an amicus brief. The task force will take public input and prepare recommendations for the Legislature in the next session.
