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Utah Senate passes package of bills on transportation, expungement, child-welfare and more
Summary
The Utah State Senate approved a series of bills on the third-reading calendar, including measures to add a county to the Children's Justice Center list, create a transportation safety funding account, permit expungement after certain dismissals, and update rules for vehicle platooning. Several bills passed unanimously or with large majorities.
The Utah State Senate advanced and approved a slate of bills during its floor session, moving measures on child-protection services, transportation safety funding, criminal-record expungement and other policy matters forward.
On the consent calendar, the Senate passed SB 81, which authorizes the attorney general to add Juab County to the list of jurisdictions served by Children's Justice Centers to ensure services for child-abuse victims in rural areas. Senator Okerlund, who presented the measure, said the change would "ensure services to child abuse victims in the rural part of the state." The president directed that a unanimous vote be recorded.
Senators also approved House Bill 26, a transportation-safety funding amendment sponsored in the Senate by Senator Buxton. Buxton said the bill "opens an account where [private] funds...can be held and used for public safety programs with schools," allowing private individuals to deposit funds for school-related safety initiatives through a Department of Transportation account. The bill passed on roll call with 26 yeas, 0 nays and 3 absences.
A debated measure on criminal records, Senate Bill 62, passed after floor discussion. Sponsor Senator Weiler said the bill provides a mechanism for people whose charges were dismissed without prejudice to seek expungement of their arrest record, explaining: "If a criminal charge is dismissed without prejudice, the person who is charged cannot expunge their arrest record." Senators asked about the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission's concerns that prosecutors might be unable or unwilling to definitively say they would never refile charges; Weiler replied that he had worked with the Administrative Office of the Courts and consulted Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings, who urged moving forward with the current draft. The Senate recorded 24 yeas, 0 nays and 8 absences and ordered the bill to third reading.
Other business on the calendar included House Bill 18 (transferring the Alcohol Abuse Tracking Committee from Public Safety to Human Services), House Bill 16 (municipal candidate replacement procedures), House Bill 34 (leave policy for certified disaster service volunteers) and House Bill 19 (a right-to-shop incentive for PEHP-insureds) — all approved on roll call with large yea majorities. The Senate also moved House Bill 23 to third reading; the bill would streamline functions at the Governor's Office of Economic Development, including revisions to the private activities bond program and certain staffing changes.
The Senate substituted and debated amendments to SB 96 (canal amendments) to address city and special-service district concerns and to add mediation and arbitration options through the Office of Property Rights; the substitute was adopted and advanced. The body also approved the first substitute to SB 56 to update statute for connected automated braking and vehicle platooning technology for long-haul freight.
Separately, the chamber recognized the University of Utah's John R. Park Debate Society with a concurrent resolution (HCR 3) and passed HJR 4, a joint resolution approving the director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel for a six-year term.
Votes at a glance: SB 81 (Children's Justice Center addition) — passed (unanimous as recorded); HB 26 (Transportation Safety Program Funding) — passed, 26–0–3; HB 18 (Alcohol Abuse Tracking Committee relocation) — passed, 28–0–0; HB 16 (Candidate replacement) — passed, 28–0–1; HB 34 (State employee leave for certified disaster service volunteers) — passed, 27–0–2; HB 19 (PEHP right-to-shop) — passed, 26–0–3; HB 23 (GOED streamlining) — moved to third reading, 28–0–1; SB 62 (expungement for dismissed charges) — passed, 24–0–8; SB 56 (vehicle platooning) — first substitute passed, 25–0–4; HCR 3 (recognition of John R. Park Debate Society) — passed under suspension of the rules; HJR 4 (appointment approval) — passed, 24–0–5.
The Senate concluded routine business, announced committee meetings and adjourned until the next scheduled floor period.
Ending: The session closed with procedural announcements and adjournment; several bills will return on future calendars for third reading or transmission to the House as applicable.
