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Senate passes HB34 to create statewide emergency energy plan
Summary
Under suspension of the rules the Senate passed House Bill 34, directing the Office of Energy to coordinate a statewide energy plan for emergencies and homeland-security-related incidents; senators said the governor’s staff assured the fiscal note could be handled within budget.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 7 voted to pass HB34, a bill described by Senate sponsor Senator Bell as establishing a coordinated statewide energy plan and designating the Office of Energy as the coordinating entity for emergency energy matters.
Senator Bell said the bill emerged from the Legislature’s energy policy task force and was intended to provide a framework for responding to emergencies that affect energy supply or infrastructure. He said the Office of Energy would prepare the plan and coordinate implementation across state agencies.
Earlier the bill had been tabled because of a $75,000 fiscal note; sponsors reported an amended fiscal note and assurances from the governor’s staff that implementation could be done within existing budget parameters. The Senate lifted the bill from the table and, under suspension of the rules, recorded 26 yes votes, 0 nays and 3 absences; the bill was signed by the president in open session and returned to the House for signature.
Senators took no further substantive amendments on the floor; the bill will proceed to the House for its final action.
