Presenter outlines minor edits in ULC substitute to House Bill 1254; committee approves substitute

A presenter told the House Regulated Industries Committee on the introduction of the ULC substitute to House Bill 1254 that the substitute is largely a reorganization and contains “less than a page” of new material amid a 61-page draft.

The presenter said the substitute makes technical edits, including striking references to “pre-need dealers or burial and funeral merchandise dealers,” removing “cemetery owner” in one location, replacing the phrase “professional registered geologist” with “registered professional geologist,” changing “May” to “shall” in a provision, and adding language to permit equivalent earth-, environmental- or engineering-focused disciplines. “This makes relatively minor changes to this bill in response to some communications the governor’s office had with cemeterians and with geologists,” the presenter said.

Committee counsel confirmed that the amendments were drafted and placed in the correct locations. Members asked procedural and drafting questions about specific line edits; a committee member noted the changes are available in a redlined packet provided to members. The committee then moved and seconded a motion to pass the substitute, and the chair called for a voice vote. “Aye,” the chair said; the ayes prevailed on a voice vote.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the vote was by voice and the numerical tally is not specified. The committee proceeded to new business after approving the substitute.