Senate approves first substitute House Bill 6, sends amended retirement budget back to House

The Utah Senate voted to pass first substitute House Bill 6, the retirement and independent entities base budget, after adopting an amendment that clarified staggered effective dates for parts of the measure.

Senator Weiler, who moved the amendment and later the final-passage motion, said the amendment “clarif[ies] that a portion of the bill ... will take effect immediately, but the rest of it will take effect on 07/01/2014.” The Senate adopted Amendment 1 by voice vote and then agreed to suspend the constitutional three-reading requirement to consider final passage the same morning.

Sponsors and committee staff framed the bill as adjustments across three oversight areas: the career service review office (a $33,000 ongoing reduction to better match historical spending), changes to non-lapsing authority (about $30,000 increased to cover claims and fluctuations), and a reallocation of $250,000 from the general fund to the Utah Education Network line with no net increase in overall funding. The floor amendment specifically clarified which provisions take immediate effect and which become effective on July 1, 2014.

On a roll-call vote the Senate recorded 28 yeas, zero nays and one absent; the bill, as amended, was ordered sent back to the House for further consideration.

The action completed the Senate’s expedited handling of the retirement and independent-entities budget item; Senate leaders said they expected the House to consider the returned bill promptly so both chambers could reconcile any remaining changes.