House amends Community Impact Fund to add local representation and education input

The House amended and passed Substitute House Bill 17 to change membership of the Permanent Community Impact Fund board to add local representation from areas affected by mineral-lease development and to restore educational representation.

Representative Brad Johnson, sponsor of the substitute, said the Permanent Community Impact Fund (established in 1977) provides financial assistance to areas affected socially and economically by resource development on federal lands and that residents in impacted areas had asked for board representation. He said the bill was supported by the League of Cities and Towns and associations of county governments.

On the floor, Representative Yardley proposed friendly amendments that added locally elected officials from specified southern counties and an additional association member; the amendments were debated and ultimately adopted after division votes. Representative Birmingham and others proposed restoring the State Board of Education's membership to ensure school impacts are considered when funds are allocated; that restoration was adopted as well.

Representative Arrington later proposed an amendment to preserve political balance in appointments. After debate and additional floor amendments the House voted on Substitute HB 17 as amended; the clerk reported the bill had passed with a recorded tally and it was sent to the Senate.

Next steps: The amended substitute will be considered by the Utah Senate; floor-recorded amendments increase rural and educational representation and attempt to preserve political balance in appointments to the Community Impact Fund board.