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Senate clears wide consent calendar; procurement, education and records bills move forward
Summary
On the penultimate legislative week the Utah Senate passed a large consent calendar and several notable bills and resolutions — including procurement reform (SB153), electronic personal medical records (HB46), and multiple education and municipal measures. Several contested bills (tax checkoff for elementary schools) failed or were returned to committee.
The Utah Senate spent much of its 42nd day processing a large consent calendar and advancing a range of bills that had been vetted in committee. Several measures passed with little debate; others drew brief floor discussion before recorded votes.
Procurement: Second substitute Senate Bill 153 (procurement amendments) was described by Senator Niederhauser as a comprehensive package that addresses appeals and higher‑education concerns; the bill passed unanimously and includes a delayed enactment for penalties to allow further work (sponsor noted May 2013 delayed enactment for penalty provisions).
Public records and health IT: First substitute House Bill 46 (electronic personal medical records) requires automatic enrollment of state employees in an electronic clinical record exchange with an opt‑out and passed 27–0 with two absent. Sponsors said the fiscal note was under the reporting threshold.
Municipal and administrative items: House Bill 259 (municipal administrative proceedings) and first substitute House Bill 229 (constable amendments) were both considered on the consent calendar and passed after sponsor presentations; HB259 was recorded as passing 27–0 and HB229 passed 27–1.
Education and tax measures: The Senate passed several education‑related items on consent, including a charter school enrollment correction (SB213) and HJR6 (severance‑tax constitutional amendment) after amendment. A separate measure, first substitute Senate Bill 59 (income‑tax checkoff for elementary schools), was uncircled and debated but failed in a close roll call (recorded as 14 yeas, 15 nays after a correction).
Other floor actions: The Senate withdrew and returned SB264 (Judicial Code Amendments relating to athletic trainers) to rules at the request of the sponsor to allow stakeholders more time to resolve concerns. The Senate also read multiple House communications and forwarded numerous bills to the House for signature.
Votes at a glance: - SB153 (Procurement amendments): passed, recorded 29–0; forwarded to House. - HB46 (Electronic personal medical records, 1st sub): passed, recorded 27–0; forwarded to House. - HB259 (Municipal administrative proceedings): passed, recorded 27–0; forwarded to House. - HB229 (Constable amendments, 1st sub): passed, recorded 27–1; forwarded to House. - SB208 (Health Care Compact): passed, recorded 21–8; forwarded to House (see separate coverage). - SB59 (Income tax contribution for elementary schools, 1st sub): failed, recorded 14–15; will be filed.
The Senate recessed for a caucus and later reconvened for additional items, including a time‑certain musical performance and concluding communications; other bills were placed on second reading at the top of the calendar for the next day.
