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Utah Senate completes last day of 1995 session, sends dozens of bills back to the House
Summary
On the final day of the 1995 legislative session the Utah Senate moved a broad package of House bills through second and third readings, approved supplemental appropriations and confirmed a slate of appointments. Several policy debates—most notably changes to the Community Impact Fund and electronic monitoring for domestic-violence cases—drew extended discussion.
The Utah Senate convened for the final day of the 1995 session and processed a heavy slate of bills, sending many back to the House for enrollment and final signature. Senate leadership urged members to avoid last-minute vote changes and to coordinate through leaders and staff as dozens of measures were considered under suspension of the rules.
Among the items advanced and passed on the floor were a long list of House bills on the consent and reading calendars. House Bill 52, directing the Utah Geological Survey to develop a paleontological certification program with a $9,500 start-up fiscal note, passed unanimously and will be signed in open session. The Senate also passed HB131 (recodification of Utah’s Unclaimed Property Act), HB313 (commitment procedures for mentally ill persons), HB194 (inmate medical co-pay requirements), HB206 (technical imprisonment changes for misdemeanors), HB230 (restrictions on name changes for specified offenders), HB281 (Youth Parole Authority board expansion), and multiple other bills listed on the second- and third-reading calendars.
The Senate approved a supplemental spending bill (Senate Bill 217) that carries a total fiscal note of about $43.8 million in one-time allocations; the bill was amended on the floor and passed by recorded vote.
The chamber recorded passage of an array of targeted appropriations and policy measures including HJR5 (encouraging local governments to coordinate special elections with scheduled elections), HCR10 (a concurrent resolution urging federal assistance to pave 25 miles of road from Navajo Mountain to Inscription House, Arizona), substitute HB61 (a tax collection fee reduction for municipalities), and a host of bills affecting juvenile procedures, election law, and public safety.
The session also confirmed a slate of gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions. The Senate gave advice and consent to the governor’s nominations by roll-call vote. Judge Ronald Eldon Nehring, nominated to the Third District Court, addressed the Senate after confirmation and pledged to apply his experience to the adjudicative role.
Not every measure passed without scrutiny. Lawmakers debated fiscal notes, membership language for the Community Impact Board and changes to how mineral-lease money is allocated, and a proposal for mandatory electronic monitoring in severe domestic-violence cases (first substitute HB222) drew particular attention from members concerned about civil-liberty safeguards when monitoring is imposed.
What’s next: many bills passed today are being returned to the House for final signature and enrollment; the Senate recessed with plans to reconvene later to finish remaining business.
Votes at a glance (selected roll-call tallies as recorded on the floor): - House Bill 52 (Paleontology certification): unanimous (26 ayes, 3 absent) — sent for enrollment. - House Bill 131 (Unclaimed Property Act recodification): 25 ayes, 4 absent — sent for enrollment. - House Bill 313 (Commitment of mentally ill persons): 25 ayes, 4 absent — sent for enrollment. - House Bill 194 (Inmate medical co-pay): 23 ayes, 6 absent — sent for enrollment. - House Bill 206 (Imprisonment for misdemeanors): 26 ayes, 3 absent — sent for enrollment. - House Bill 230 (Name-change restriction for specified offenders): 25 ayes, 4 absent — sent for enrollment. - Substitute House Bill 259 (Personnel Management Act amendments): 24 ayes, 5 absent — to be returned to House for consideration. - HJR5 (Local election dates resolution): unanimous (26 ayes, 3 absent) — to House for final signature. - Substitute House Bill 9 (Independent internal auditor): 23 ayes, 6 absent — passed. - First substitute House Bill 222 (Electronic monitoring of domestic-violence offenders): 27 ayes, 2 absent — passed; includes judicial discretion and mechanisms for monitoring. - Substitute House Bill 61 (Tax collection fee reduction): recorded passage with 24–25 ayes depending on call; sent to House for enrollment. - Second substitute House Bill 234 (Center for Persons with Disabilities appropriation, amended on floor): recorded as passed and will be sent back to the House for further consideration. - Senate Bill 217 (Supplemental appropriation, amended on floor): passed (25 ayes, 4 absent) and transmittal planned.
Sources: Senate floor proceedings, March 1, 1995 (opening through recess).
