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Senate adopts resolution on unreinforced masonry buildings after floor amendments
Summary
After extended floor debate and two substitute amendments, the Utah State Senate passed House Joint Resolution 7 recognizing inventories of unreinforced masonry public buildings and directing state-level review; the resolution limits the inventory to public buildings and adds liability protections for the state.
The Utah State Senate on March 3 passed House Joint Resolution 7, a resolution directing attention to unreinforced masonry buildings, after a lengthy floor debate and several amendments.
Senator Jenkins, who led floor amendments, said the change narrows the inventory and distribution of lists. "I just couldn't see a need for us to let FEMA even know what this information was," Jenkins said during the floor exchange explaining his amendment to limit distribution to the Seismic Safety Commission. Senator Fife, the resolution sponsor, said the amendment was agreed with the House sponsor and would not deter the resolution's purpose. "This was discussed with the House sponsor," Fife said, adding the changes did not defeat the bill's intent.
The Senate considered and adopted a substitute amendment that inserted a small textual correction and then a second amendment limiting the inventory to public unreinforced masonry buildings and holding the state harmless to the extent possible from lawsuits. Senator Walker asked for a small wording change (inserting the word "b") which the body adopted as a substitute motion. Senator McCoy argued that sending a copy of the resolution to FEMA was merely a notification and posed no significant risk, while Jenkins and others preferred to keep the matter with state and local authorities.
The resolution passed on final roll-call with 27 yes votes, 0 nays and 2 absent and was returned to the House for further action. Senator Fife waived final summation before the vote. The Senate's action directs state-level attention to unreinforced masonry buildings and sends the amended resolution back to the House for concurrence.
The resolution does not by itself mandate construction standards or appropriations; it recognizes an inventory process and signals the Legislature's intention to have the Seismic Safety Commission and state officials involved in identifying public unreinforced masonry structures. The next procedural step is the House's consideration of the Senate amendments.
