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Utah Senate advances package of bills, from university programs to construction-zone penalties
Summary
The Utah Senate moved a broad slate of bills Feb. 2, 1998, sending measures on recreation research, lead-paint remediation certification, indigent defense fund adjustments, construction-zone penalties, and several education and judiciary items to third reading or the House.
The Utah State Senate on Feb. 2 advanced a large set of measures, approving bills to reauthorize a recreation and tourism extension program, create a certification system for lead-based paint remediation, modify indigent defense fund timing and contributions, and increase penalties for speeding in construction zones, among other actions.
Why it matters: The package includes education and public-safety measures that could affect state budgeting, higher-education program assignments and the enforcement of roadway safety rules. Several bills carry fiscal notes or set priorities that the Legislature will address as it finalizes the budget.
Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 35, to reestablish outreach work tied to the Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, after floor debate failed to pass an amendment shifting assignment authority to the Board of Regents. Senator Hilliard sponsored the bill; the amendment that would have left assignment to the Regents was argued by Senator Evans but failed. SB35 passed on roll call with 27 aye votes and was transmitted to the House.
Other floor actions included Senate Bill 118, creating a DEQ certification program for lead-paint remediation specialists (passed 26–0); Senate Bill 103, an adjustment to the indigent defense fund timeline and county contribution levels (passed 26–0); and Senate Bill 100, a bill outlawing operable radar-jamming devices in vehicles that passed 22–1. The Senate also took up SB105 to expand a scholarship program to include BYU students with a $300,000 fiscal note to hold other institutions harmless; that measure advanced to third reading (27–0).
On policy resolutions, the body approved SR1 urging parental oversight of children’s movie viewing (20–2) and SJR9 urging federal and state officials not to implement Kyoto Protocol obligations unless developing countries accept comparable limits (26–0).
What’s next: Many of the bills were placed on third-reading calendars or sent to the House for consideration. Sponsors noted fiscal prioritization will determine final funding; the Senate recessed until 2 p.m. to continue work.
Votes at a glance: SB35 (Recreation & Tourism Research) — passed, 27 aye; SB118 (Lead remediation certification) — passed, 26 aye; SB103 (Indigent Defense Fund amendment) — passed, 26 aye; SB100 (Radar jamming devices) — passed, 22 aye, 1 nay; SB105 (Utah Centennial Opportunity Program expansion) — passed, 27 aye; SR1 (Parental oversight resolution) — passed, 20 aye, 2 nay; SJR9 (Kyoto Protocol resolution) — passed, 26 aye.
Sources: Floor debate and roll-call tallies recorded on the Senate floor Feb. 2, 1998.
