Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Liberties topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adopts conference report and passes Second Substitute SB78 shielding certain private venues
Summary
The Utah Senate adopted a joint conference committee report and passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 78, adding protections for businesses in certain private venues and an automatic exemption where compliance with the statute is demonstrated, following assurances the language addressed homeland security concerns raised by the business community.
The Utah Senate on March 11 adopted the conference committee report and passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 78, which the sponsor said includes a business-community exemption to address concerns about federal enforcement.
Senator Mason, sponsor of the measure, told the chamber the conference committee "were able to address a final concern that the business community had that the Department of Homeland Security might be able to come in ... and be able to either fine or issue a cease and desist order." He said the committee "crafted language that would protect the businesses and give them an automatic exemption should that scenario arise." The Senate then voted to adopt the committee report and proceed to final passage.
Senator Madsen moved adoption of the conference committee report. With the explanation and the added protections for businesses, the Senate called the question and conducted a recorded roll-call, after which the President announced the measure passed and would be returned to the House for final action.
Passage on the floor was recorded in the roll-call announced by the presiding officer; the body recorded the motion and subsequent final passage before returning the bill to the House for signature.
The measure, described on the floor as addressing protections in "certain private venues," now goes back to the House for final steps before enrollment. The Senate's action reflects the negotiated compromise adopted by the joint conference committee that sponsors said balanced constitutional concerns with business protections.
