Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Code Rulemaking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves technical labor code revisions after debate on agency rulemaking
Summary
House Bill 108, correcting drafting oversights in labor-code consolidation, passed 48-17 after debate over broad rulemaking language and whether it cedes legislative authority to agencies such as the Industrial Commission.
House Bill 108, characterized by the sponsor as a technical fix to correct oversights from earlier labor code consolidation, passed the Utah House by a 48-17 vote and will be transmitted to the Senate. The bill addresses an omitted repeal and clarifies rulemaking authority in the reorganized chapter of the labor code.
Representative Osler, sponsor of HB 108, said the bill "rectify those oversights" left after consolidation of earlier task-force recommendations. Representative Howard challenged the bill's phrasing on agency rulemaking, asking whether the language allowing agencies to issue rules "consistent with the chapter" would permit agencies to write implementing rules on subjects not explicitly enumerated by the Legislature. Howard warned that "what you do when you do that is turn over the legislative function to the Industrial Commission."
A different member defended the Industrial Commission's need for broad rulemaking authority, saying it would be hard for the agency to function without such latitude. After discussion and a summation by the sponsor, the House voted; the bill passed and will move to the Senate.
