Utah House advances tougher attempted-murder terms, a state earned-income tax credit and other bills

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives moved a package of criminal, tax and procedural measures on Jan. 24, 2002, approving changes that supporters said would strengthen protections for victims and ease tax burdens for low-income workers.

Representative Bryson, sponsor of revisions to attempted-murder law in Senate Bill 22, said the changes respond to severe local cases and would allow courts to consider a higher sentencing range for attempted murder involving serious bodily injury. "So I would ask your support for this bill, and I'm open to any questions," he told the House. After questions from several members about mandatory sentencing and practical effect, the House voted 68-0 to pass SB 22; the bill was read by title and entered on the journal the same day.

The House also debated and amended House Bill 224, a proposal from Representative Karen Morgan to distinguish knowingly giving another person's real identifying information from supplying a fictitious name to a police officer. Morgan argued the current law leaves innocent people to spend "months trying to clear a conviction under their name," and said prosecutors and law-enforcement groups supported making the misuse of another person's identity a more serious offense. Critics cautioned against broadly increasing penalties; Representative McCartney warned, "We just keep piling it on and making the sentences longer." The chamber voted on an amendment to change the bill's proposed penalty class; the amendment carried on a 35-32 division and the bill was circled for further handling.

On tax policy, Representative Hatch led passage of House Bill 60, which would create a state earned-income tax credit tied to the federal credit and intended to aid working families. "This bill would affect about 45,000 working families in the state of Utah," Hatch said, noting the fiscal estimate at introduction was about $3.5 million. Members questioned funding sources and how the sliding credit amount would translate to total cost; the House approved the measure 63-4 and sent it to the Senate.

Lawmakers also addressed a range of technical and coordinating bills. Representative Wayne Harper substituted language in House Bill 51 to remove wording that produced an unintended fiscal note; the first substitute passed 63-1. The House uncircled and passed Senate Bill 8 (repeal of the National Guard Advisory Board) by 68-0. Representative Bigelow moved and passed an amendment to House Bill 255, a cleanup renaming the finance agency language to the Utah Housing Corporation. A resolution to require public notice before special sessions (House Joint Resolution 11) was amended to require 48 hours' notice and passed 65-0.

Votes at a glance

- SB 22 (attempted-murder amendments): passed House 68-0; read by title and entered on journal (01/24/2002). - SB 8 (repeal National Guard Advisory Board): passed House 68-0; uncircled and signed by the Speaker. - HB 224 (giving false information to police): sponsor Representative Karen Morgan; amendment changing proposed penalty class passed 35-32; bill circled for further action. - HB 60 (state earned-income tax credit): sponsor Representative Hatch; passed House 63-4; sent to Senate; fiscal-note estimate cited ~ $3.5 million at introduction, but actual cost depends on eligibility and uptake. - HB 51 (sales and use tax: parts and labor), first substitute: passed House 63-1; sponsor Representative Wayne Harper. - HB 225 (mental health professional financial-assistance coordination): passed House 56-8; sponsor Representative Buffmeier. - HB 49 (sales and use tax — location): passed House 63-0; sponsor Representative Harper. - HB 255 (Utah Housing Corporation amendments): amendment under Representative Bigelow passed; bill moved forward. - HJR 11 (public notice before special sessions): amended from 72 to 48 hours; passed House 65-0.

What happens next

Several bills approved by the House were sent to the Senate for consideration. Several items were circled or amended for future action on the House floor. The House recessed until 2 p.m. for the afternoon session.

(Reporting from the House floor; quotes and vote tallies reflect statements and roll calls recorded on the Jan. 24, 2002 House transcript.)