Utah Senate Convenes extraordinary session and unanimously consents to governor’s slate of appointments

The Utah State Senate convened in a second extraordinary session in June 2019 and unanimously consented to a slate of gubernatorial appointments, including seven nominees to the state’s Compassionate Use Board under the Utah Medical Cannabis Act.

Senator Jay Stewart Adams, president of the Utah State Senate, opened the session after a governor’s proclamation calling the Senate to meet in special session to consider appointments. The proclamation, signed by Governor Gary R. Herbert and attested by Spencer J. Cox, said the purpose of the session was for the Senate to consent to appointments made since the close of the 2019 general session.

A communication from the Utah Department of Health listed seven nominees for the Compassionate Use Board — Joel Evenkrans, Ed Redd, Angelo Giardino, Nicholas Whipple, Megan Ward, Richard Segal and Colleen Marti — and noted statutory qualifications, including a requirement that at least two board members hold pediatric board certification and that registration for qualified medical providers would begin in fall 2019. The department letter was read into the record by Mark Thomas.

After discussion and a motion to consent to the appointments, the clerk called the roll. "Having received 20 yay votes, 0 nay votes," President Adams announced, "the motion passes and the confirmations are confirmed." The Senate recorded the consent vote as unanimous among those present.

The Senate also received and considered multiple letters from the governor transmitting appointments and reappointments across state government — including nominees to the State Tax Commission, the Wildlife Board, the Boards of Trustees for state colleges and universities, the Board of Regents and several technical college boards. Committee reports on the floor indicated that confirmation committees had reviewed these nominees and recommended them favorably.

Senators on the floor offered brief remarks in support of the nominees and clarified two name confusions noted during discussion: a senator clarified that Craig Hall listed among nominees is the father of Representative Craig Hall, and another clarified that nominee Eric I. Weeks is a different individual than Eric N. Weeks associated with legislative staff. The Senate appointed a committee to notify the governor's representative that the body's business was concluded.

With votes recorded in favor of the transmitted slate, Senator Weiler told the floor, "We were very efficient today, Mister President, pro tem." Following a motion to adjourn, the Senate concluded its extraordinary session.

The session’s formal actions taken on the record were: adoption of Senate rules for the extraordinary session, the Senate’s appointment of a committee to notify the governor’s representative, unanimous consent to the Department of Health Compassionate Use Board nominees, and consent to the broader slate of gubernatorial appointments transmitted in the governor’s communications. The letters and communications themselves, as read into the record, list the specific appointee names and the statutory sources authorizing the appointments.