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Utah Senate advances broad package of bills, appoints conference committees
Summary
The Utah Senate on March 2, 2010, moved a large concurrence calendar, appointed several conference committees and approved a string of bills ranging from school funding changes to bail enforcement identification and canal-safety planning. Several items were returned to the House for final signatures after recorded roll-call votes.
The Utah Senate returned to order March 2 and moved quickly through a packed concurrence calendar, appointing conference committees on disputed items and approving a range of bills that the House had modified or transmitted for further consideration.
Senators voted on a series of measures across education, public safety and infrastructure. First Substitute Senate Bill 165 (allocation and apportionment of income and deduction of a net loss) was concurred with and passed on final reading (29–0). The chamber also approved bills including a revenue-bond capital facilities authorization (House Bill 5), refinery-zoning coordination in South Davis/North Salt Lake counties (House Bill 169), and a civil cause of action tied to illegal controlled-substance sales (House Bill 409); all were returned to the House for the Speaker’s signature.
On education funding, the Senate refused to concur with House amendments to First Substitute Senate Bill 2 (minimum school program and public education budget amendments) and communicated that refusal to the House; the President also authorized conference committee appointments where the two bodies could not agree. In another education measure, Second Substitute House Bill 295 was approved to allow, for 2010 and 2011 only, limited use of capital-outlay levy proceeds for general-fund purposes where funds are unencumbered; sponsors said the measure could avert layoffs in some districts. Senator McAdams and other proponents emphasized reporting and limits intended to protect equalization dollars.
Public-safety and licensing bills advanced as well. The Senate passed House Bill 60 (Water Conveyance Facilities Safety Act), which requires targeted management plans only for canal segments in locations where a failure would risk life or major infrastructure and protects sensitive plan information under GRAMA. House Bill 426 (bail bond license/representation amendments) was amended on the floor to require bail-recovery agents to wear conspicuously labeled clothing during high-risk activity and to allow a badge for discreet identification in low-risk circumstances; the amendment and bill passed. House Bill 398, which requires local licensing and employee background checks for the type of businesses named in the bill, was debated at length on the floor about local control and administrative burden before passing.
Several conference committees were appointed where the House refused to recede from Senate amendments (for example on a general obligation bond authorization); the President named senators to those committees and the clerk read communications from the House about appointed conferees.
The Senate recessed for evening caucuses and a dinner break and planned to resume consideration of concurrence items after the recess.
Votes at a glance: First Substitute Senate Bill 165 — final passage 29–0; First Substitute House Bill 355 — passage 27–0 (signed by the President in open session); House Bill 398 — final passage 22–2; House Bill 246 — final passage 22–2; House Bill 60 — final passage 24–0; House Bill 426 — final passage as amended 23–1; Second Substitute House Bill 295 — final passage 25–0. Several other bills were passed or concurred with and sent back to the House for signature.
