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Utah Senate moves a slate of bills, defeats higher-education measure and hears U.S. Sen. Bennett on Y2K and transportation
Summary
On Jan. 23, 1998, the Utah State Senate adopted routine business, passed multiple bills including substitute SB 78 and SB 32, defeated SB 93 after extended debate on university authority, and heard U.S. Sen. Robert Bennett warn of Y2K risks while discussing federal transportation funding.
The Utah State Senate met Jan. 23, 1998, adopted routine business and moved a series of bills forward, including passage of substitute Senate Bill 78 on state highway changes and Senate Bill 32 regarding the Real Estate Recovery Fund. Lawmakers defeated Senate Bill 93, a measure to give college presidents limited human-resources authority, after an extended floor debate. The Senate also heard from U.S. Sen. Robert Bennett, who briefed members on federal transportation funding and cautioned about risks from the year‑2000 (Y2K) computer problem.
Senate business began with the adoption of the journal and routine communications from the House, then moved into third- and second-reading calendars. Substitute SB 78, a transportation-related bill described as the department’s recommendation for state road changes, passed the Senate and was sent to the House; the presiding officer announced: "Senate Bill 78 has 27 aye votes with no nay votes with 2 being absent and will pass to the House for their consideration." Senate Bill 32, which removes a sunset for the Real Estate Recovery Fund, passed unanimously; sponsor Senator Mansell said the fund had paid about $600,000 in claims and held roughly $800,000.
On water policy, Senator Holmgren outlined amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act intended to maintain state primacy with federal rules and to fund water projects. Holmgren said the changes involved "paying the $12,000,000 plus of money" and ongoing program costs; the chamber moved the bill forward by roll call.
The Senate debated Senate Bill 93, a bill by Senator Evans to allow institutional presidents optional, limited human-resources authority for classified staff. Supporters argued it would provide "a basis to establish general policy...good personnel management" and fairness for classified employees; opponents warned it risked "micromanaging the universities" and could hamstring local administration. The roll-call vote failed: the presiding officer reported 12 ayes and 17 nays, and the bill did not pass.
During the morning the body also considered the reauthorization of the uninsured motorist database (SB 8). Senators questioned contract bidding and fiscal notes and moved to "circle" (hold) the measure to allow staff time to distribute additional fiscal information; the presiding officer asked staff to circulate the updated fiscal note.
U.S. Senator Robert Bennett addressed the Senate in a Committee of the Whole. Bennett said federal allies on appropriations were supportive of Utah transportation needs and urged continued advocacy for long-term authorization rather than short continuing resolutions. He also pressed state lawmakers to examine Y2K readiness beyond software fixes, highlighting embedded chips in equipment and quoting a witness who testified there was "a 40% chance this will trigger a worldwide recession." Bennett said state officials should scrutinize their systems and noted an estimated $40 million in the state budget for Y2K remediation.
Votes at a glance: SB 78 (substitute) — passed (announced 27 ayes, 2 absent); SB 32 (Real Estate Recovery Fund amendment) — passed (unanimous, reported 29 ayes); SB 96 (Safe Drinking Water Act amendment) — advanced/passed (presiding officer announced 27 ayes, 2 absent); SB 74 (demand-draft / UCC change) — moved forward (recorded 28–0 with 1 absent); SB 77 (task force on middle-school issues) — placed on third-reading calendar then tabled by motion; SB 93 (higher education presidential authority) — failed (12 ayes, 17 nays). Several other bills and committee reports were read and assigned to committees.
What’s next: leadership placed remaining revised statutes and longer bills on upcoming calendars, scheduled additional hearings and left the Senate adjourned until Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Quotes used in this report come directly from the Senate transcript of Jan. 23, 1998. Where the transcript recorded ambiguous numeric tallies for a measure, this article notes the outcome and indicates when the recorded tally in the transcript is unclear or garbled.
