Following the Utah Legislature 2/10/09

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY

Legislators will debate on the floor twice today, from 10 to noon and from 2 to 3 pm. There are 146 bills on the boards awaiting debate. Standing committees will meet both morning and afternoon, and today is a Caucus Lunch day.

THIS MORNING

HOUSE WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE will hear two general briefings on the economy. The Department of Workforce Services will talk about Historical Economic Trends. The Governor's Office of Economic Development will report on growth of "New Business in Utah."

SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES will consider SB 175. It requires signs warning against leaving children or pets in parked cars to be posted at state facilities, public schools and child care facilities. The sign would warn that extreme temperatures in parked vehicles can lead to death. Also before the committee is SB 173, which would remove emotional support animals and psychiatric therapy animals from the definition of service animals trained to do work for persons with disabilities.

THIS AFTERNOON

HOUSE EDUCATION will look at HB 146. It would allow School Land Trust Program money to be used to buy and install solar or geothermal systems for installation on school property.

HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY will consider HR 3, Resolution on Energy Policy. It urges Utah to withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative, a regional effort that enables Utah, other Western States and Canadian Provinces to participate in decisions to reduce climate change emissions. HR 3 objects that the Western Climate Initiative requires Utah to reduce carbon dioxide emissions without legislative consultation or public input. It also alleges that the Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change (BRAC) lacked balance and did not provide full debate of global warming issues and the economic costs to Utah associated with their policy options. The resolution says costs to business and consumers will increase while carbon emissions decrease very little, especially since China, Russia, Mexico and India are expanding their carbon footprints. HR 3 also objects to the emissions cap and trade option and says carbon capture and sequestration are new, unproven technologies.


WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Energy bills votes, for and against renewable energy, seem to be popping up all over the place.

SENATE WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT passed Senator Stowell's SJR 10, which supports establishing and certifying an Alternative Energy Training Center in Beaver County. The county is already developing the Blundell Geothermal Plant, Thermo Hot Springs Plant, and First Wind Project. And the Milford High School Technology Department is preparing students for careers in the renewable energy industry. SJR 10 notes that the bulk of renewable energy sites identified by the Utah Renewable Energy Zones Task Force are located in rural Utah.

On the other hand, HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT tabled on an 8-4-2 vote Senator Jones' bill Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 1, encouraging renewable energy development. A tabled bill can be brought back later. SJR 1 directs the State Energy Program to assess the need for local government solar and geothermal ordinances, then to report to the Legislature on how it assesses that need. Reps Noel, Barrus, Winn, and Gibson had many concerns about messages in the resolution, including implications that our current energy mix is polluting, an implication that the Legislature doesn't support balanced energy development, a question as to why biomass isn't included with solar and geothermal, and whether it's really a state goal to "develop renewable energy while preserving farmlands & agricultural enterprises"

WORKFORCE SERVICES also approved SB 14, modifying state incentives for movie and television companies to film in Utah. Cash rebates for small budget productions and refundable tax credits for larger budget state-approved productions would be offered.

HOUSE JUDICIARY decided to hold HB 294, which expands the general damages, in addition to special damages such as income loss, that can be awarded to the heirs of a person injured by a wrongful act. General damages would include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other not easily quantifiable damages suffered by the person until the person's death.

SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION decided not to lift from the table (reconsider) Second Substitute S.B 114, which raises the cigarette tax. However, a similar House bill is being sponsored by Rep Ray, HB 219. If it were to pass the House late enough in the session, after standing committees were no longer meeting, it could go directly to the Senate floor for a vote--but only if the Senate Rules Committee decided to let it out.

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