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SALT LAKE CITY — Here is what's currently happening during the legislative session at the Utah Capitol. Lawmakers are the currently looking at bills to add a fine to state lawmakers who report their campaign contributions late, add more parents to the statewide testing materials review board and a bill to extend the school day for children in poverty.
A bill to make 'revenge porn' illegal and the resolution to move the Draper prison also cleared hurdles in committees.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, met with Utah lawmakers Monday and told them he "feels passionately" about the state's unique caucus and convention system for selecting political party nominees.
Committee votes to renew Medicaid waiver for autism treatment program
A Senate committee voted unanimously Monday to renew a two-year pilot program that provides treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder.
If the bill ultimately passes, HB88 would allow for autism services to be provided through a Medicaid waiver program and a public employee health plan. The program previously included an autism treatment account, but funding for the account ends in June.
Committee approves bill to impose fine for reporting campaign contributions late
State lawmakers who fail to report campaign contributions on time might have to pay fines.
HB246 would impose a $50 or 15 percent fine, whichever is higher, on campaign contributions that aren't reported within the 30-day period required by law. There currently isn't a penalty for failing to meet the deadline.
Proposed school grading changes clears first hurdle
Since lawmakers first adopted a school grading law in 2011, the controversial process of assessing school performance with a single letter grade has undergone frequent revisions.
On Monday, the latest proposed changes cleared their first hurdle as members of the Senate Education Committee approved SB209, sponsored by Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton.
House approves bill to add more parents to help review statewide test materials
After significant revisions that drew praise for compromise, a bill increasing parent review of the state's computer adaptive testing easily passed the House on Monday in a 66-4 vote.
HB81, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Alpine, expands the current 15-member review committee to include 30 members and shortens a parent's term of service from four to two years.
House committee backs resolution to move prison
The years-long push to move the Utah State Prison from Draper got a boost Monday from a House committee, which unanimously backed a resolution calling for relocating the aging facility.
The sponsor of HCR8, Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, told members of the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee that the resolution was just the start of a long process.
Charter school students, faculty gather at Capitol for legislative session
When high school senior Alexandria Northrup graduates this spring, she'll do so with 12 credits from the University of Utah.
Northrup is enrolled in two courses at the U., writing and humanities, and she takes them for free while simultaneously completing her high school coursework at the Academy for Math Engineering and Science, or AMES, an early college charter school in Murray.
"I really like the community at AMES," Northrup said. "It's like we're a family. We all support each other in different ways."
Northrup and her AMES classmates were among the student representatives from 35 charter schools that filled the Capitol rotunda Monday. The event gave lawmakers a chance to see the innovation taking place at Utah's alternative public schools, from online- and technology-driven education to learning that incorporates outdoor expeditions into the curriculum and schools that focus on students on the autism spectrum.
Critics say bill to raise RMP prices for solar customers discourages use
Rene Oehlerking and a roomful of other critics in Monday's meeting of the Senate Business and Labor Committee say the measure sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, would deter development of solar because of the added costs it imposes by Rocky Mountain Power.
"Our concern is that it has taken about 10 years to get to this place of where there are 2,000 customers with solar," Oehlerking said, adding that such a bill would greatly reduce any subsequent progress.
Bramble's SB208 proposes to levy an additional fee on top of an already assessed monthly fee of $5 for all Rocky Mountain Power customers. The utility company is proposing before the Public Service Commission to add $4.25 monthly to all net-metering customers — or those customers who generate their own solar energy or wind power.
House amends voter info bill after man posted information online
State lawmakers are trying to figure out how to prevent Utah voters' information from being used for personal gain after a New Hampshire man bought it from the state and posted it online.
The Senate last week unanimously passed SB36 to limit access to the state's voter registration rolls and prohibit putting it on the Internet. It includes exceptions for political, scholarly, journalistic and governmental purposes.
But a House committee Monday expanded those exceptions to include banks, hospitals and insurance companies. It now goes the full House for consideration.
Chaffets says he 'feels passionately' about Utah's caucus system
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Utah lawmakers Monday he "feels passionately" about the state's unique caucus and convention system for selecting political party nominees.
"I think it's important to have a process that forces discussion on issues and principles," Chaffetz said during his annual address to the Utah House. "We can't allow big money and big name ID to dominate the process."
Chaffetz described how he struggled to connect with the delegates chosen at caucus meetings to vote on nominees at party conventions when he challenged a sitting Republican congressman, former Rep. Chris Cannon.
Senate gives first nod to bill extending school day for children in poverty
A bill to provide educational opportunities to children affected by intergenerational poverty gained initial approval from the Utah Senate on Monday.
SB43, sponsored by Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, would allocate $5 million from the state's education fund to provide grants for programs outside of the regular school day.
Committee recommends bill to make 'revenge porn' illegal
"Revenge porn" is one step closer to being criminalized.
A Senate committee gave a favorable recommendation Monday to a bill that would criminalize so-called “revenge porn.” The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee sent the bill to the full Senate with a unanimous vote.
HB71 addresses nonconsensual pornography, which is the publication of explicit photos and videos without the permission from the subject, usually by a previous significant other, with the intent to cause emotional distress or harm.
Senate approves bill to make sheriff state law enforcers on federal land
A Senate committee unanimously voted Monday to recommend HB225, which clarifies that the sheriff is the primary state law enforcer on federal land.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, wouldn't change current statute.
Committee approves state-funded Medicaid expansion alternative
A state-funded alternative to taking federal money for the Medicaid expansion available under the Affordable Care Act was approved by a House committee Monday on a party-line vote.
The House Business and Labor Committee voted 11-3 to give a favorable recommendation to HB141 after the health reform amendments bill was substituted to include the plan backed by House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo.
Only Democrats on the committee opposed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, which forgoes more than $500 million in federal funding for Medicaid expansion in favor of using state money for limited coverage.
Senate advances bill to make State School Board elections nonpartisan
Partisan or nonpartisan?
That was the question before members of the House Education Committee on Monday as they debated contradictory bills that seek to create a direct election process for State School Board members.
The committee ultimately voted 9-3 to advance Rep. Jim Nielson's bill, HB223, creating nonpartisan elections to the full House.
Contributing: Madeleine Brown, Dennis Romboy, Lisa Riley Roche, Benjamin Wood
