Utah Senate advances multiple bills, hears Rotary international guest and debates licensing and sheriff-fee changes

The Utah State Senate met on Jan. 22, 2003, opened with an invocation and a proclamation recognizing Rotary Worldwide Polio Eradication Day, and then moved through a full legislative calendar that advanced a string of bills to third reading or referral to the House.

During opening remarks the body received Rotary International president Bichai Radhakul, who thanked Utah Rotarians and public contributors, and cited Rotary’s global fundraising and progress toward polio eradication. The Senate temporarily resolved into a committee of the whole for the presentation and then resumed regular session.

On the floor, senators read standing committee reports and introduced a range of bills before debating several measures in depth. Senator Bramble moved passage of Senate Bill 17 (sales and use tax exemption for semiconductor fabrication/processing materials), explaining timing differences in tax reporting; the bill passed on a roll call with 21 aye votes, 4 nay votes and 4 absent and was referred to the House for further consideration.

Senate Bill 83, a package of occupational and…