Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the University Athletics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Representative Bowman withdraws Utah basketball scheduling bill after SUU request
Summary
Representative Bob Bowman announced he would withdraw H.B. 176, a proposal to require home-and-home basketball series among the state's public universities, after Southern Utah University's administration asked him to do so; the House later struck the bill's enacting clause and declared the bill dead.
Representative Bob Bowman used a personal-privilege statement to announce that Southern Utah University asked him to withdraw H.B. 176, a bill that would have required Utah's four public universities to play home-and-home basketball series every other year. Bowman said the university "has requested Representative Bob Bowman, Cedar City, to withdraw his bill," and that he would honor that request.
Bowman told colleagues the bill had 39 cosponsors — one more than required for passage — but that university athletic departments should settle scheduling among themselves rather than through legislation. He said SUU had directed its athletic department to schedule Weber State on a home-and-home basis and would seek neutral-court options for other northern institutions.
After Bowman read a letter from the university, he asked the House for leave to strike the enacting clause from his bill. The body approved the motion to lift the bill from the rules committee and place it on top of the third-reading calendar, then granted Bowman's motion to strike the enacting clause. The Speaker announced, "The bill's dead." Bowman thanked members and said he would distribute copies of the letter to members of the House.
Practical effect: H.B. 176 will not proceed this session. The House took no further committee or floor action on scheduling of university athletic contests during the remainder of the day's session.
